Arsenal chief Edu admits this season is crunch time for Mikel Arteta.

This season is the one Gunners technical director Edu has pinned as the campaign Arsenal show real progression and start to show signs of their former selves.

Speaking to The Athletic while in Orlando as part of Arsenal's pre-season tour of the United States, Edu opened up on his relationship with Arteta while raising the stakes for the coming campaign.

Edu said: "He [Arteta] showed me he has a very clear idea of how he wants to play football, which again helps us to make decisions. Now he's going to make the club's life easier.

"Then I give to the club a five-year plan. I said to Mikel and to the board: 'Guys, 2022-23 will be the season we're going to be much better. We have to be patient… It would be impossible to take everyone out and put everyone in, we need a process to do that."