Arsenal head of sports medicine Dr Zafar Iqbal leaving club

Arsenal's head of sports medicine, Dr Zafar Iqbal, is leaving the club after two years. It is understood that the process to replace the practitioner, who previously held roles at Crystal Palace and Liverpool, is already underway.

Iqbal was informed of his departure in a meeting last week, following Arsenal's loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final.

He arrived at the Emirates Stadium in 2024, taking over from Gary O'Driscoll, who had moved to Manchester United. While Iqbal is highly regarded within the sport, the decision came as a surprise, despite some staff members being aware of uncertainty regarding his future in recent weeks.

The specific reasons for the departure remain unclear, though the Gunners' squad suffered from various key injuries throughout the course of the season.