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Edu's daughter hits back at abusive Arsenal fans leaving vile messages on her social media

Arsenal technical director Edu's daughter has spoken out after her and her family have been on the receiving end of abuse from the Gunner's fan base after poor start to the season

Edu's teenage daughter Maria Gaspar has taken to Instagram to hit back at supporters sending abuse to her and her family after Arsenal's poor start to the new season.

Her father, Edu, has been technical director at the Emirates Stadium since 2019 and oversees the club's transfer business, for which he has received criticism.

Arsenal have spent over 100million this summer on five new first team additions, but many supporters believe their arrivals have not improved Mikel Arteta's squad.

Tensions are now running high in north London as Arsenal have followed up their first failure to qualify for Europe in 25 years with back-to-back league defeats.

[Maria Gaspar poses in a hoodie]

Edu's daughter, Maria Gaspar, has said that the abuse her family has received "hurts a lot"

Writing on her Instagram Stories to her 67,000 followers, Gaspar said "Look at everything my father has won, look at everything that he's done.

"I know about his potential. I'm not here to talk about that. But sometimes, reading this stuff, it hurts a lot. But we have to get used to this life, right. In life there are ups and downs.

"My father has been on this life for a while, from criticism to praise, he's used to it but I am not. It hurts a lot, but we will learn [to get used to it]."

Edu spent three years with Arsenal as a player between 2002 and 2005, winning two league titles and three FA Cups and was a member of the Invincibles.

Will Arsenal make a return to the top six in the Premier League this season? Let us know in the comments section below.

[Maria Gaspar poses in a swimming suit]

Maria Gaspar posted a series of Instagram stories hitting back at the abuse she has received from Arsenal fans

"Everyday, I used to answer people on DM's, and some have asked why I stopped doing so. I can't open my DM's anymore because it's full of abuse, I don't have a lot of patience," she added.

"My head is not right at the moment to explain why they're abusing my father."

Edu made 127 appearances for Arsenal as a player, scoring 15 times, before he returned to the club after 14 years away to become technical director.

He has previously worked at boyhood club Corinthians as well as with both the Iranian and Brazilian national teams since retiring as a player in 2011.

[Edu and Mikel Arteta watch a match from the stands]

Edu has backed Mikel Arteta in the transfer window this summer, but some fans are still not impressed

Tensions rose at the Emirates on Sunday as Arsenal trailed Chelsea and footage has shown fans abusing Edu and his family whilst they sat in the director's box at the stadium.

The footage also shows the 43-year-old's wife turning to the incensed supporters and showing them a middle finger in response.

Although he has been criticised for Arsenal's form on the pitch and their summer transfer business, he is largely credited with bringing promising Brazilian youngster Gabriel Martinelli to the club in 2019.

Edu's son is also with the club, Luigi Gaspar is a 17-year-old central midfielder like his father who currently plays in Arsenal's under-18s side.

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