Arsenal legend Tony Adams slams Edu and Raul Sanllehi over club recruitment

Arsenal legend Tony Adams has slammed the Gunners’ sporting director Edu and head of football Raul Sanllehi, saying the club are going through a ‘recruitment issue’

Posted Saturday, July 18, 2020 by Dailystar.co.uk

Arsenal legend Tony Adams has slammed club chiefs Edu and Raul Sanllehi over their management of recruitment in north London.

The former defender won two Premier League titles with the Gunners, paving the way towards the Invincibles season under Arsene Wenger.

The Frenchman was able to recruit club legends such as Thierry Henry, Patrice Vieira and Robert Pires.

That 2003/04 title win was the last time Arsenal tasted league glory, with four FA Cup wins to their name, which has seen criticism fall at the Gunners’ door.

And Adams has put the blame at the hands of the men in charge of the club’s transfer policy.

Arsenal legend Tony Adams has slammed his former side's recruitment policy

Speaking to talkSPORT, he said: “My fundamental issue is with recruitment. I think the club is going through such a recruitment issue at the moment – it's not relying on agents.

“My fundamental issue is with recruitment. I think the club is going through such a recruitment issue at the moment – it's not relying on agents.

“It took Steve Rowley 40 years to build that scouting network; it did brilliantly, got the best players from around the world. And it's just been blown up.”

The Englishman went on to criticise two individuals at the Emirates Stadium.

“Edu, I love him, he's a beautiful man, it's not personal, but he has no experience of building European squads,” Adams added.

The Brazilian was part of the Invincibles squad before retiring in 2010 – but he returned to north London to become the club’s first ever sporting director.

And the former defender also laid criticism at the Head of Football’s feet.

Adams continued: “Even Raul Sanllehi, [who] came from Barcelona, all the money in the world, it don't look like he's going to get money.

“Those people are out of their depth, I'm sorry. They need to build a fantastic squad that challenges for the league and it hurts.”

Another man to face criticism at Arsenal is owner Stan Kroenke as new boss Mikel Arteta has pleaded with the American for funds ahead of the summer transfer window.