Arsenal have parted ways with head doctor Zafar Iqbal just days after the conclusion of the season. Iqbal, who joined the club in February 2024 from Liverpool, having previously worked at Tottenham, was informed of his immediate dismissal during a meeting last week.
The decision comes amid persistent injury woes that have plagued the Gunners in recent campaigns. Manager Mikel Arteta had commissioned physiotherapist Joaquin Acedo to conduct a review of the medical department earlier this year. Key players such as Bukayo Saka, Jurrien Timber, and Kai Havertz all spent considerable periods on the sidelines during the season.
In response to the injury crisis, Arsenal's summer transfer strategy prioritized squad depth over marquee signings, a move that ultimately paid off as they secured their first Premier League title in 22 years. However, the club has continued to make changes behind the scenes, and the process to find Iqbal's successor is already underway.
Arteta has repeatedly stressed the importance of improving the team's injury record. "I've said it many times – get all the players available in April, May … your best players on the pitch as much as possible and the probability to win it increases dramatically. It's as simple and as difficult as that," he stated.
At Arsenal's training ground, a sign in the treatment room serves as a constant reminder: "Your best ability is your availability." After a defeat to Bournemouth in April, Arteta delivered a pointed message about the need for improvement, whether directed at players or medical staff. "We need everybody fit and available. So the ones that are not involved, the ones that are not with us that are really big important players, we need them immediately with us," he said.
