Arsenal are undergoing significant changes behind the scenes following the conclusion of the 2025/26 campaign, with the departures of senior medical and coaching staff now taking shape.
The North London club has reportedly ended its association with long-serving head doctor Zafar Iqbal in the aftermath of their UEFA Champions League final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain. The decision comes after a season in which Arsenal struggled with a series of injuries affecting several important members of the squad.
Although the exact reasons behind the move have not been officially disclosed, the club appears determined to review its internal structure as preparations begin for the upcoming season. Interestingly, Dr. Iqbal was seen celebrating with players during Arsenal’s Premier League trophy presentation at Selhurst Park only weeks before his departure was confirmed.
Meanwhile, Arsenal are also expected to lose Max Porter, the club’s Under-21 manager, who is closing in on a move to Stoke City.
Porter has been part of Arsenal’s academy setup since 2017, progressing through multiple age groups after initially joining as an Under-9 coach. His coaching journey included spells with the Under-13s, Under-17s and Under-19s before he moved into the Under-21 setup. Last summer, he stepped into the role of Under-21 head coach following the departure of Mehmet Ali to Brentford.
The highly rated coach is now set to become part of Mark Robins’ coaching team at Stoke City, taking on a similar position within the Championship club. His experience with both Arsenal’s youth ranks and first-team environment is expected to be valuable as Stoke seek improvement after ending last season in 17th place.
Despite narrowly missing out on a historic Premier League and Champions League double, Arsenal appear ready to make important personnel adjustments as they build towards another title challenge next season.
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