Arsenal abruptly sacked their head physician Zafar Iqbal simply days after their defeat.
Dr Iqbal, 51, is a revered sports activities drugs practitioner who had been on the membership since February 2024 however was summoned to a gathering final Monday and advised he can be leaving with rapid impact.
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It isn’t clear what formal course of was undertaken earlier than the choice.
Telegraph Sport reported final month that the membership had who had a protracted affiliation with Mikel Arteta to have a look at the membership’s problematic harm document this season.
It’s unclear whether or not Dr Iqbal’s sacking has any reference to that assessment, by the physio Joaquín Acedo. It’s understood that the information got here as an enormous shock to Iqbal and different medical workers.
Mikel Arteta (proper) needed to cope with a excessive quantity of accidents as he ended Arsenal’s 22-year await the title – David Klein/Reuters
Dr Iqbal was advised of the choice by chief government Richard Garlick – promoted by Josh Kroenke, son of proprietor Stan, in September to guide the membership.
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Contained in the membership there have been many views on why misplaced key gamers akin to , , and for lengthy durations of the membership’s Premier League-winning season. Coaching, crew choice, rotation and medical care have all been thought-about as to why some have struggled with the workload.
Arsenal performed 63 video games throughout 4 competitions in addition to 5 pre-season friendlies, together with three within the Far East on the finish of July.
Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard struggled to remain match through the 2025-26 marketing campaign – Rob Newell /Getty Photographs
The depth of Arteta’s strategy to coaching is extensively recognised within the sport. He believes in making ready for matches by enjoying at an identical tempo. That lastly yielded Arsenal a and a spot within the Champions League remaining.
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However, there was rather a lot requested of many gamers in what was a gruelling title race. A number of the accidents have been sustained by way of influence – broke his foot in January and didn’t play once more till the ultimate day of the season.
Dr Iqbal led a serious division at Arsenal as head of sports activities drugs and efficiency. He fulfilled an identical function earlier than at for nearly eight years. Beforehand he spent greater than 4 years at , changing into head of sports activities drugs. Earlier than that he was at , first as an academy physician after which with the primary crew.
He’s the chair of the Soccer Affiliation Medical Society, which seeks to assist sports activities drugs professionals within the sport.