Arsenal technical director Edu has revealed the club were forced to rebuild their squad as former stars were 'killing' them.
In recent years, a number of high profile players, including Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Mesut Ozil, had their contracts paid up to shift them off the books.
Arsenal technical director, Edu, is delighted to overseeing an impressive summer
Edu was influential in offloading stars like Aubameyang as he attempts to change the mentality at the club
It was a costly process but vital as the Gunners look to become a top-four team once again.
Now going into their sixth season outside the Champions League they are at huge crossroads after years of underperformance but they aren't settling for a fourth place, they want more.
Ozil and Aubameyang, among others were shifted and in have come a number of young and hungry talents with points to prove - a necessary change in the squad's mentality.
Edu told The Sun: "Arsenal should not be building to just fight for fourth. A club of our size cannot accept that.
"That's what really hurt when I returned three years ago. I was asking, 'What's happening here? Everybody is comfortable and they're all OK with that?'
"Well, f*** you, because that's not the mentality of this club. I want everyone to feel, 'F***ing hell, now we are really going to go for things'.
Ozil's attitude at Arsenal didn't align with Edu's and he too was offloaded
"So we needed a squad with personalities that say, 'I am not losing this game — I will kill someone first but I don't lose'.
"And this summer I think we've added more players with that kind of character."
Gunners chiefs also paid off defenders Shkodran Mustafi, Sead Kolasinac and Sokratis to go and their technical director revealed it was a necessary evil.
Edu said: "When a player's 26 or older, has a big salary and is not performing, he's killing you.
"In the past, 80 per cent of the squad had those characteristics and there was no chance anyone would buy them."
Jesus has been signed by Arsenal as he looks to prove himself in the Premier League and become Brazil's starting striker
He added: "They don't have a transfer value and are comfortable on a long contract living in London.
"So we needed to clean the squad and if we had to pay some to go, I considered it an investment.
"It's better than having them blocking the path of another player. It's not a problem if a player has a big salary and performs.
"I know it's strange to go to the board and tell them, 'Sometimes it's better to pay a player to leave than to keep them'.
"I realise that hurts and some people say that it's expensive — but you have to take the problem out."
Oleksandr Zinchenko, also signed from Man City, is another talent looking to progress with the Gunners
And after a disappointing end to last season, which saw them beaten to Champions League qualification by rivals Tottenham Hotspur, Edu believes this will be a successful campaign.
He added: "It's important for people to see the direction we're going in.
"Now we have a plan and I always said to Mikel Arteta and the board that 2022/23 will be the season we'll be much better."
Arsenal's transfer window has been impressive but the club's trailing of Raphinha, who was clearly set on joining Barcelona, raised some eyebrows.
Raphinha has been signed by Barcelona but Edu is clear on Arsenal's interest in the player
Edu, though, insisted their interest was not that intense.
"People think we went in too deep about Raphinha, because Raphinha was everywhere," Edu told Sky Sports.
"It's fair we did have some conversations with Deco because Deco is his agent and I have a good relationship [with him] - we are friends.
"I just said to Deco, 'Can you explain to me the situation with Raphinha?' and he was clear, 'Edu, we have a good relationship but I'm not going to lie to you, his idea is to go to Barcelona because he's dreaming to go to Barcelona, and we've been talking to Barcelona since a long time ago'.
"Okay, thank you very much, if something happens then just let me know because I can explore and understand the situation. If not, no problem and we carry on with our relationship."
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