Edu Gaspar spoke to the media on Saturday night, confirming Arsenal already have summer targets but playing down calls for a striker.
![Edu discusses Arsenal's summer targets & calls for a striker 1 Edu Gaspar speaking to TNT Sports (Photo via TNT Sports)](https://dailycannon.com/static/uploads/2024/02/Edu-Gaspar-1024x549.jpg)
Arsenal sporting director Edu Gaspar was in attendance for the team’s 4-1 win over Newcastle United on Saturday, and the Brazilian spoke to TNT Sports after the game.
Edu began by explaining the breadth of his duties in his current role, before adding that the work on the summer transfer window has already begun.
“There’s a lot going on at the moment,” Edu said. “My role, I have to not only look after the [men’s] first team, I have to look after the women’s [team], the academy as well. There are a lot of things to do.
“But of course, now, we start to plan ahead of the summer, on the recruitment. A lot of things are happening and we are really enjoying [it].”
![Edu discusses Arsenal's summer targets & calls for a striker 2 Edu Gaspar speaking to TNT Sports (Photo via TNT Sports)](https://dailycannon.com/static/uploads/2024/02/Edu-Gaspar-Rio-Ferdinand-1024x546.jpg)
Rio Ferdinand then asked Edu about the potential pursuit of a striker this summer, but the Arsenal sporting director played down talk of a centre-forward addition.
“I understand what the fans are asking for,” Edu responded. “But we have already our targets, we plan a lot ahead of what you are going to face.
“I would be worried if [Arsenal] are not scoring a lot of goals, and if you’re not creating chances, which is the opposite. I think we’re creating a lot, we’re scoring a lot of goals.
“The plan is every year to try to get better, and I think we’re in a good moment, let’s see if we can keep improving and improving.”
![Edu discusses Arsenal's summer targets & calls for a striker 3 Arsenal's Spanish coach Mikel Arteta reacts during the UEFA Champions League last 16 first leg football match between FC Porto and Arsenal FC at the Dragao stadium in Porto on February 21, 2024. (Photo by PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA / AFP) (Photo by PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA/AFP via Getty Images)](https://dailycannon.com/static/uploads/2024/02/fbl-eur-c1-porto-arsenal-1024x683.jpg)
Arsenal are certainly scoring plenty of goals at the moment. Since the winter break, the Gunners have netted 25 times in seven games, only drawing a blank in the 1-0 defeat to FC Porto.
To average more than 3.5 goals per game across seven matches is certainly very impressive, and Mikel Arteta’s squad will be confident they can grab a couple more in the return leg at home to Porto.
Yet there are still some questions up front. Though Arsenal are certainly capable of scoring plenty of goals when everyone is on it, they perhaps lack a goalscoring difference maker in tighter games.
Before the recent run of goals, Arsenal had scored just one in three games against West Ham United, Fulham, and Liverpool, and we saw many of the same frustrations from those matches against Porto.
The Gunners are still capable of lacking a goal threat, even if those occasions seem much less frequent at the moment. Edu and his transfer team have a big decision to make this summer.