Arsenal are parting ways with their head of sports medicine, Dr Zafar Iqbal, after two years at Emirates Stadium. The club has already begun the search for his successor.

Iqbal was told of his departure during a meeting last week — held shortly after Arsenal's UEFA Champions League final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain — and the news has caught many in the football world by surprise. He is widely regarded as one of the most respected medical practitioners in the game.

He joined Arsenal in 2024, stepping into the role vacated by Gary O'Driscoll, who departed to take up a position at Manchester United. Before his time at Arsenal, Iqbal had also held roles at Crystal Palace and Liverpool.

The circumstances surrounding the decision remain unclear, though it is understood some members of Arsenal's staff had grown aware of uncertainty over his position in recent weeks. Notably, the Gunners' squad endured a significant number of injuries to key players across the season.