Arsenal abruptly sack respected head doctor Zafar Iqbal | OneFootball

Arsenal have made the shock decision to part company with head doctor Zafar Iqbal, bringing an abrupt end to the respected medic’s two-year spell in north London.

According to The Telegraph, Iqbal was informed last Monday that his employment was being terminated following a meeting with Arsenal chief executive Richard Garlick.

The decision is understood to have come as a major surprise to both Iqbal himself and members of the Arsenal medical department.

The 51-year-old had served as head of sports medicine and performance for the Gunners since February 2024.

However, he oversaw a department that came under increasing scrutiny during a campaign heavily affected by injuries.

Arsenal eventually ended their 22-year wait for a Premier League title but did so while dealing with lengthy absences.

Key players, including Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka, Jurrien Timber and Kai Havertz, were out for significant spells.

The timing of Iqbal’s departure has inevitably raised questions.

Arsenal recently commissioned Spanish physiotherapist Joaquin Acedo, a long-time associate of manager Mikel Arteta, to conduct a review of the club’s injury issues.

However, there is currently no indication that the review directly led to Iqbal’s exit.

Arsenal’s medical and performance teams faced a huge workload throughout the 2025/26 season.

The Gunners played 63 competitive matches across four competitions in addition to five pre-season fixtures.

Internally, various factors have reportedly been examined when assessing the injury record, including training intensity, player rotation, squad management and medical processes.

Iqbal leaves Arsenal with an outstanding reputation within the game.

Before joining the Gunners, he held senior medical roles at Crystal Palace, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur, while also serving as chair of the Football Association Medical Society.

His sudden departure will likely spark debate, given Arsenal’s on-field success and the lack of clarity behind one of the summer’s most surprising off-field decisions.