In a recent discussion, Vieira highlighted a former Arsenal teammate whom he believes was undervalued within the squad. He named Edu Gaspar as Arsenal’s most underrated player, citing his quality as a holding midfielder and his technical prowess.
“I think the Brazilian Edu was really good holding midfielder. I loved to play with him because technically he was a really good player and he was much better than what people think and he had a really good career with us at Arsenal,” Vieira said on ITV Sport.
Edu’s contributions to Arsenal in the 2003/04 era are noteworthy. He made over 120 appearances across four years and scored 15 goals, a solid tally for someone in a holding midfield role. Arsenal secured Edu for a modest fee of around £6 million, a purchase that proved to be a significant bargain given his impact on the team.
Edu’s performance under Arsene Wenger demonstrated that his presence complemented the more prominent stars in the squad, contributing to the overall balance and effectiveness of Arsenal’s play.
This recognition from Vieira adds another layer of appreciation for Edu’s impact within that talented 2003/04 Arsenal lineup, underscoring how the team relied on dependable, hardworking players to complement the flair and creativity of its more famous names.
