ARSENAL HEAD OF SPORTS MEDICINE DR ZAFAR IQBAL TO LEAVE CLUB

Arsenal's head of sports medicine, Dr Zafar Iqbal, is leaving the club after two years. Iqbal was informed of his departure during a meeting last week, following Arsenal's Champions League final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain. The club has begun the process of finding a replacement. Iqbal joined Arsenal in 2024 from a background that includes roles at Crystal Palace and Liverpool.

His predecessor in the role at Arsenal, Gary O'Driscoll, left to join Manchester United. Iqbal arrived at Emirates Stadium the same year O'Driscoll departed. Some members of staff had been aware of uncertainty surrounding Iqbal's future in recent weeks, though the news is understood to have come as a surprise to many. The reasons behind the decision have not been confirmed publicly.

Arsenal's first-team squad suffered a significant number of injuries across the course of the season. The club has not issued a formal statement on Iqbal's departure or on the recruitment process now under way. Iqbal is regarded as highly respected within the professional football community. His exit marks the second time Arsenal has had to fill the head of sports medicine position since 2024.