Mikel Arteta has opened up on the thinking behind a significant restructuring of Arsenal's medical and sports science staff during the off-season, as the club looks to address a recurring injury problem that has hampered their title ambitions in recent campaigns.
The Gunners boss has consistently pointed to fitness issues as a major obstacle in Arsenal's pursuit of major honours, with the club suffering through lengthy absences to some of their most important players. Bukayo Saka, William Saliba and Kai Havertz have all endured extended spells on the sidelines at pivotal moments of the season, disruptions that have coincided with Arsenal falling short in their quest for silverware.
The overhaul saw several key figures depart from the club's medical setup. Dr Zafar Iqbal, who served as head of sports medicine, was dismissed not long after Arsenal's Champions League final loss to Paris Saint-Germain. Tom Allen, the head of sports science and performance, also left his post, while lead performance coach Sam Wilson exited at the close of June, completing a wave of departures behind the scenes.
These changes followed an internal review of the medical department conducted last season, a process in which Joaquin Acedo, a longtime friend of Arteta's, was brought on board to take a prominent role.
Speaking about the exits, Arteta was keen to acknowledge the contributions of those who left while stressing that the drive for improvement extended well beyond the playing squad.
"First of all thank you to them for all the incredible work they have done for the club, for the players, for myself – and how well they have taken us and we will look to improve and evolve in certain areas," Arteta said.
The Spanish manager added that the club had taken a broader view of where changes were necessary. "We need to look across the club and we have made certain decisions that in our opinion will help us in medium and long term to be better," he explained, while also recognising the difficulty of parting ways with staff members who had built close bonds with the team. "They are always difficult when you talk about people and you get such a strong relationship. It is always very, very tough."
In terms of incoming appointments, Arsenal have recruited Eneko Angulo, who joins after previously serving as head of rehabilitation at Real Betis. The club has also brought in Arnaldo Abrantes as their new head doctor, poaching him from Aston Villa. Abrantes brings a distinctive background to the role, having competed as a professional sprinter for Portugal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Arteta highlighted how Abrantes' athletic past factored into the decision to bring him in. "He was a good athlete," the manager said. "When we're trying to evolve the squad, the team and the relationships and where the game is evolving, we wanted to recruit different qualities. That's one, when you've been there and sensed things in a different way. But as well because of his background, his knowledge about a lot of things that I was very interested in."
Arteta expressed confidence that the new arrivals represent the right direction for the club moving forward. "We believe he was the right fit. I'm very happy with what he's bringing," he said, as Arsenal prepare to defend their position among the Premier League's top contenders with a revamped support staff behind the scenes.
Based on reporting from Standard Football.