Arsenal 'set to make' major appointment that could solve Mikel Arteta's problem in title race
Arsenal are set to appoint former Liverpool and Tottenham medical expert Zafar Iqbal as the team's new head of medicine. It comes around six months after Gary O'Driscoll left his post to join Manchester United earlier this season.
Iqbal, who is currently at Crystal Palace, has worked in football for almost 20 years after starting out at Leyton Orient, working his way up to become one of the best in the business. He has already been replaced by the Eagles as they look to move on from one of the industry's best.
According to the Training Ground Guru, Iqbal will serve out his notice period with Palace before joining Arsenal, a period not yet known publicly. However, the Gunners will be hopeful he can come in to have some impact this seasonas they look to make the most of their squad in the final months of a huge title race.
Arsenal and Mikel Arteta have been balancing fitness problems throughout the season, with a host of key players missing extended periods. Currently, they are without seven first-team names, including Oleksandr Zinchenko, Gabriel Jesus, Jurrien Timber, and Thomas Partey.
As the Champions League returns this week, Arsenal will be looking to use the entirety of their squad to full effect, competing on two fronts for the remainder of the season. As the final stretch comes into view, it could be availability that swings things.
Liverpool themselves have come into injury issues in recent weeks, losing Alisson, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Curtis Jones, Dominik Szoboszlai, Thiago Alcantara, and Diogo Jota. Manchester City have also run into their own sticky patch, with Jack Grealish struggling, John Stones out, and Manuel Akanji only just returning. Mateo Kovacic played no part in the draw with Chelsea on Saturday
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