Eneko Angulo: New Arsenal appointment pens goodbye letter ahead of arrival | OneFootball

Mikel Arteta is driving an overhaul of the Gunners’ medical department

Real Betis rehabilitation specialist Eneko Angulo has penned an emotional goodbye letter ahead of his protracted move to Arsenal.

Iqbal was relieved of his duties after two and a half years at Arsenal, with the process of finding his replacement already underway.

Angulo is not a direct replacement for Iqbal, but he has extensive experience in player recovery and rehabilitation and leaves Real Betis after 12 years.

Despite winning the Premier League title and reaching the Champions League final last season, Arsenal suffered a number of injuries to key players, with Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel all spending prolonged periods on the sidelines.

It is unclear why Iqbal’s time at Arsenal ended, but the club are making a concerted effort to change how the medical department operates.

In his letter, which was posted on social media, Angulo said it was hard to say goodbye to Real Betis - the same club he had joined as an intern.

“It is not easy saying goodbye to you,” Angulo said.

“My arrival was as unexpected as my departure is now. We were two strangers, but you've ended up becoming an inseparable part of me.

“Twelve years have passed between that boy who walked through your doors to do an internship in a newly created rehabilitation department at the youth academy and the person who says goodbye today.

“I never imagined the path we would travel together. I had the privilege of being with you, of reaching the first team, of fulfilling dreams that seemed unattainable, of living moments and experiences I never could have imagined.

“I leave with millions of memories I will never forget. It's hard for me to accept that our paths are separating. It's hard for me to imagine my day-to-day life away from you.

“You have been more than a club, more than a team, more than a job. You have been my home. Those who have shared this journey with me know this well. You were the place where I grew professionally, but also where I grew as a person. Where I found colleagues who became friends, people who marked my life, and memories that will stay with me forever.

“Today I leave with the peace of mind of having given everything I had. With mistakes, successes, better and worse days, but always with the same intention: to help, to contribute, and to represent you with the utmost commitment. I take much more than I leave behind. I take lessons learned, experiences, friendships, and a part of me that will always belong to this place.

“Thank you to everyone who has made this stage an unforgettable adventure. Thank you to every colleague, player, and staff member I have been lucky enough to meet during these years. I take with me people and friends for life. Today, I close a chapter that has been the most important of my professional and personal life.

“I do so with sadness for what I leave behind, but also with a deep sense of gratitude for everything I have experienced. Because although our paths diverge today, a part of me will always remain here