Arsenal sign Real Betis Head of Rehab

Betis are understood to view Angulo’s departure as a major loss, with the rehabilitation specialist accepting an offer from the Premier League champions.

According to ABC in Spain, Arsenal have strengthened their medical and performance department by signing Eneko Angulo, the head of rehabilitation for Real Betis’ first team.

Angulo leaves Betis after 12 years with the Spanish club, where he had worked across the youth academy before taking responsibility for first-team set-up.

Mateo Gonzalez reports that Angulo accepted a “lucrative offer” from the Premier League champions and Champions League finalists.

Angulo had initially developed his work at Betis as an assistant in Manuel Pellegrini’s first-team set-up, after previously gaining experience in the academy.

His rise through the club made his farewell a particularly emotional one, and he marked his departure with a long message to Betis.

“It’s not easy to say goodbye to you,” he wrote on X. “My arrival was as unexpected as my departure has been. Twelve years have passed between that young man 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 growing 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 that I will never forget . It’s hard for me to accept that our paths are diverging. It’s hard for me to imagine my daily 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 will mark 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 days and worse, but always with the same intention: to help, to contribute, and to represent you with the utmost commitment. I take with me much more than I leave behind. I take with me lessons learned, experiences, friendships, and a part of myself that will always belong to this place.

“Thank you to everyone who has made this chapter an unforgettable adventure. Thank you to every teammate, player, and staff member I’ve been fortunate enough to work with over 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 we’ve experienced. Because although our paths diverge today, a part of me will always remain here. Thank you so much for everything. I love you, Betis.”

In response, Real Betis replied, “Thank you so much for these twelve years of dedication, work, and love for this club! We wholeheartedly wish you all the best, both personally and professionally, and tons of luck for what’s to come.”

There will, however, be a swift reunion. Arsenal are due to face Betis in Dublin on 5 August.

Arsenal have already let their doctor, Dr Zaf Iqbal go, while recruiting heavily from Aston Villa‘s medical department as they look to put an end to the number of injury problems they have suffered over recent years.

• Arsenal assess 5 fresh international break injuries ahead of Leeds game

  A number of Arsenal players picked up problems while away, but several others could yet return in time for the weekend.

  

  The extended international break is over and Arsenal now turn their attention back to the Premier League, with a sizeable injury list to assess before the weekend’s game against Leeds United.

  The Gunners went into the break with William Saliba sidelined as he recovers from a back fracture, Ben White out with a groin injury, Cristhian Mosquera recovering from a hamstring issue, Piero Hincapie carrying an unspecified muscular problem and Declan Rice being managed because of his workload.

  Several more players have since joined them in the treatment room.

  Marli Salmon withdrew from the England Under-18 squad after picking up an injury following his appearance for Arsenal against Ipswich Town.

  There has been no further update since his withdrawal two weeks ago.

  Kai Havertz then suffered a hamstring injury only 30 minutes into Germany’s first game of the break.

  It is hoped that he will be able to return relatively soon, although no timeframe has been given.

  

  Ezri Konsa withdrew from the England camp on Monday after sustaining an impact injury, while also carrying another problem.

  Thomas Tuchel explained: “Ezri felt discomfort when he came into camp, played with discomfort against Spain, and it got a bit worse.

  “He stayed in camp and tried everything for the match in Czechia that came too soon.

  “He tried everything for the match in Croatia and gave a green light, finished all of the training sessions in between and was ready to play.

  “Unfortunately, he got another hit on the quad and that caused a light trauma and we decided to not let him play through this pain and discomfort again, so he left camp to get treatment for both his issues.

  

  “I think nothing major, but not worth the risk taking. We were happy with the attitude that he showed to stay in camp and be ready for Croatia and have a good match…he picked up another one in the match, but from a knock, not a muscle injury or something.”

  Christos Tzolis also picked up a hamstring injury, although the Greece manager was quick to play down fears that it could be serious after he was substituted just 18 minutes into the game against the Netherlands.

  “We don’t know how much damage was done today, but I hoped it was just a twitch, something temporary,” Ivan Jovanovic said.

  

  “When a doctor considers that this thing, as he and Christos understand it, is something that is not for the player to continue playing. Certainly first as a coach I have to take the decision to replace the player, because it was a muscular issue.”

  Max Dowman was also reported to have picked up an injury while away with England’s Under-19s, although details remain limited.

  There is some better news for Arsenal before the Premier League resumes.

  Rice is expected to be available at the weekend, while White could also return.

  

  Konsa may also be back in contention, while Mosquera was spotted training with Valencia during the international break.

  Hincapie remains a doubt, while Havertz appears likely to miss out. Tzolis is also expected to be unavailable.

  Finally, there is new confusion over when Saliba is expected back.

  As always, you can keep up-to-date with Arsenal injury news on our dedicated Arsenal injury update page.

  

• Ex-Gunner escapes serious sanction after fan altercation

  Former Arsenal defender Krystian Bielik has lerned the outcome of an FA investigation after an ugly confrontation with a Portsmouth supporter at Fratton Park.

  

  Former Arsenal defender Krystian Bielik has avoided a more serious sanction after an altercation with a Portsmouth supporter during Cardiff City’s 2-0 Championship defeat at Fratton Park on September 5.

  Bielik has been banned for two matches and fined £10,000 following the incident, which occurred in the 70th minute with Cardiff two goals behind.

  The 28-year-old was attempting to retrieve the ball for a throw when footage shared online appeared to show him reaching over the advertising hoardings and grabbing a young supporter around the neck after the ball had been thrown over him.

  The supporter then appeared to slap Bielik and push him away.

  Play was stopped for around three minutes while referee Ben Speedie and his officials brought the situation under control. The supporter was subsequently asked to leave the ground.

  

  Bielik had already been booked in the ninth minute but received no further punishment during the match and finished the game.

  Cardiff manager Brian Barry-Murphy said after the match: “Krystian went to get the ball back from the stand and got slapped in the face.

  “I just wanted to make sure he was protected and make sure he was OK. He is, and I thought the referee and his staff handled the incident impeccably.”

  Portsmouth manager John Mousinho said: “The referee said that, as Krystian went to get the ball, there was a little bit of a kerfuffle and one of the supporters struck him.

  “It wasn’t a good incident. We extend our apologies to the players, Cardiff, and make sure we can try to cut it out.”

  Bielik only joined Cardiff from West Bromwich Albion late in the summer for around £2 million.

  The defender joined the Gunners from Legia Warsaw in January 2015 for around the same amount.

  He made two senior appearances for Arsenal, both in the League Cup, with his first-team debut coming against Sheffield Wednesday in October 2015.

  Bielik left Arsenal permanently for Derby County in 2019 in a deal worth £7 million.

  

• Arsenal striker’s international form gives Arteta timely boost after Havertz injury

  Viktor Gyokeres is back at Arsenal ‘feeling good’ after another prolific international break for Sweden, capped by a record-extending goal in Bucharest.

  

  A confident Viktor Gyokeres will return to Arsenal after scoring four times for Sweden during the international break, extending his record Nations League scoring run to seven successive matches, and closing in on his country’s all-time greatest scorers’ list.

  The 28-year-old struck the winner as Sweden beat Romania 1-0 in Bucharest on Monday night, taking his international record to 25 goals in 41 appearances.

  Gyokeres scored in every fixture during the extended break, finding the net in wins over Romania and Poland in Stockholm, the 1-1 draw away to Bosnia and Herzegovina, and again in Bucharest as Sweden strengthened their position at the top of Group B4.

  “That (his goals for Sweden) means we win three games and draw one. It is a good start to the Nations League this year and for me it feels very good,” Gyokeres told reporters, as quoted by SVT Sport.

  

  “They (Romania) had the ball a bit too much and we made it difficult for ourselves at times, but we won the match and keep a clean sheet, so after the match it is a nice feeling.”

  His latest goal was one of the simpler finishes of his international career.

  Lucas Bergvall won possession before finding Alexander Bernhardsson, whose cross was hit against the post by Sebastian Nanasi, leaving Gyokeres to finish into an open goal from close range.

  The strike extended his Nations League record to seven consecutive scoring appearances.

  Sweden face Bosnia and Herzegovina again on November 14 before completing the group stage away to Poland three days later, giving Gyokeres the chance to extend that sequence further.

  His 25 international goals also leave him closing in on Sweden’s all-time top 10 goalscorer’s list.

  Tomas Brolin and Agne Simonsson share 10th place on 27, two ahead of the Arsenal striker.

  

  Zlatan Ibrahimovic holds Sweden’s record with 62 goals from 122 caps, an average of 0.51 goals per game followed by Sven Rydell with 49 in 43 (1.44) and Gunnar Nordahl with 43 in 33 (1.3).

  Gyokeres currently averages 0.61 goals per international appearance.

  The striker has only made two substitute appearances for Arsenal in the Premier League this season, but his form for Sweden provides an obvious boost before domestic football resumes against Leeds United on Saturday, especially with Kai Havertz sidelined once again with injury.

  The break has provided exactly what Mikel Arteta would have wanted. Four matches, four goals, 344 minutes of 360 played, a new Nations League record and another step towards Sweden’s all-time scoring elite.

  Gyokres has three goals in two games against Leeds.

  

• Leeds without at least 3 for Arsenal test

  Arsenal return to Premier League action against Leeds United this weekend with an opportunity to reclaim top spot, while the visitors arrive in north London carrying several injury concerns.

  

  Arsenal return to Premier League action this weekend against Leeds United, with the visitors arriving at the Emirates carrying several injury concerns after the extended international break.

  Arsenal will be looking to reclaim top spot from Manchester City, who travel to Liverpool for their game at Anfield on Sunday, but Leeds have their own problems to manage before Saturday’s meeting in north London.

  Loan signing Jean-Mattéo Bahoya will need to be assessed after withdrawing from the France Under-21 squad with an ankle injury.

  The 21-year-old forward, who joined Leeds at the end of the summer transfer window, picked up the problem during the first half of France Under-21s’ 3-2 victory over Luxembourg Under-21s on Saturday.

  Bahoya initially attempted to continue but was eventually replaced by Mathys Tel of Tottenham Hotspur.

  Should he fail to recover, it is unlikely he will be missed having only played one minute for Leeds this season so far, however Leeds will be without more influential players.

  Leeds will also be without Mateo Joseph, who is expected to remain sidelined for the rest of the year while recovering from an ACL injury.

  Centreback Joe Rodon is also unavailable because of a hamstring injury, while Harry Wilson is expected to be ruled out with a quad problem.

  

  Leeds manager Daniel Farke delivered a bleak update on Rodon on 3 September.

  “Yes, bad news! Joe has a hamstring injury,” Farke told reporters.

  “He will be out for, at the moment, an assessment of eight to 10 weeks, so he will definitely not play before the next international break. Also, probably not the first games after the international break. Of course, a big blow for us because he is a key player for us.”

  Regarding Wilson, Farke said on 18 September ahead of their game against Crystal Palace, “Sadly, Harry Wilson is out for this game. Quad injury. He reported some problems after last game and then also during this training week; he will probably also miss the Welsh games. So definitely not good news for him and also not for the Welsh team.”

  Regardless of who is available, recent history in this fixture strongly favours Arsenal.

  In the past nine Premier League meetings between the clubs, Arsenal have won eight and drawn one, scoring 24 goals while conceding only five.

  With City facing a hostile trip to Anfield, Arsenal have an opportunity to make a statement in light of the recent City cheating verdict, but Leeds arrive in fifth place and, unlike the Gunners, are yet to lose a game this season.

  Find out here who will referee Arsenal vs Leeds United on Saturday.

  

• Arsenal 19yo picks up injury on international duty

  Smilla Holmberg has suffered an injury while away with Sweden, with the Arsenal defender now undergoing treatment and further assessment ahead of a World Cup play-off.

  

  Smilla Holmberg has picked up a foot injury while away with Sweden, forcing the Arsenal defender to miss training ahead of their World Cup play-off against Lithuania.

  Reports in Sweden say Holmberg suffered the problem during training and is now undergoing treatment and awaiting further assessment.

  “She sprained her foot during yesterday’s training. Rehab, treatment and further examination await today,” said Niklas Egnell, the women’s national team’s Head of Performance.

  Sweden are due to face Lithuania away on Friday before the sides meet again at home next Tuesday.

  

  Holmberg first received a senior Sweden call-up when she was named in Peter Gerhardsson’s 23-player squad for Euro 2025 in Switzerland in June 2026, when she was 18.

  She has since made 15 appearances for her country and scored against Germany in a 4-1 win just a month after her debut.

  Her opportunities at Arsenal have been limited this season. Holmberg has played 43 minutes in the league, while she started the Champions League game against HB Køge and added another 21 minutes in the competition against Paris FC.

  The immediate concern for Arsenal will be the outcome of the further examination, with Holmberg now facing a race to be available for Sweden’s two matches against Lithuania.