Antonio Gomez’s appointment as Arsenal’s new Head of Performance has been confirmed through images of the Spaniard attending training with the Gunners.
Following the unofficial confirmations of Arnaldo Abrantes and Eneko Angulo’s moves to Arsenal over the past week, new photos have also confirmed the addition of Antonio Gomez to the club’s backroom staff.
Reports from earlier this month had confirmed that former Braga conditioning coach Gomez would be leaving his role to join Arsenal, and pictures from the club’s trip to Spain have shown the new staff member attending training.
Cadena SER report that it wasn’t easy for Arsenal to bring in their new Head of Performance, with neither Braga’s owners nor the coaching staff wishing to let him go. They considered him a highly reliable fitness coach.
But in the end, the club understood the magnitude of Arsenal’s offer, and agreed to let him leave.
As mentioned, Gomez is one of a few new additions to Arsenal’s medical and fitness staff in recent weeks.
Arnaldo Abrantes has joined from Aston Villa to replace Dr Zafar Iqbal as Arsenal’s head of medicine and performance, whilst Eneko Angulo has left Real Betis to become the Gunners’ new head of rehabilitation.
Abrantes has reportedly been joined at Arsenal by a couple of other fitness coaches who were previously working for Aston Villa as well.
Arsenal have seen a few key staff members leave this summer, with club doctor Zafar Iqbal’s departure just one of those. Head of sports science and performance Tom Allen is also leaving the club, as well as fitness coach Sam Wilson.
The departures coincide with an internal Arsenal review of their medical term by Joaquin Acedo, with the BBC reporting that Acedo’s influence on the summer changes has been significant.
Though not everyone departing has been forced out, with previous reports suggesting Wilson had the option to stay but chose to leave for a more senior role elsewhere.
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