The move follows a wider overhaul of Arsenal’s performance structure after several seasons shaped by injury problems.
Arsenal have seemingly made another addition to their backroom staff, with Antonio Gómez leaving Braga to join the club as part of the continuing reshaping of the medical and performance departments.
According to Record in Portugal, Gómez has left his role as fitness coach at Braga, where he had been part of Carlos Vicens’ coaching staff, to join the Gunners.
His place at the Portuguese club has been taken by Ramiro Marín, who worked as fitness coach for Barça Atlètic, Barcelona’s reserve team, last season.
The move comes during a period of significant change behind the scenes at Arsenal, with the club continuing to overhaul the departments responsible for fitness, rehabilitation and medical care after several seasons severely affected by injury problems.
Arsenal have hired Portuguese sports medicine specialist Arnaldo Abrantes as their new club doctor and head of sports medicine. He leaves Aston Villa, where he had been head of medical services, and is expected to start this month, replacing Dr Zafar Iqbal, who was abruptly removed from his role after the Champions League final.
Reports have also claimed that two of Abrantes’ former Villa colleagues, both physios, also moved to Arsenal in recent months, meaning he will arrive in a department where there are already familiar faces from his previous club.
Arsenal are also bringing in Eneko Angulo, who has left Real Betis after 12 years as their head of rehabilitation. Angulo is being hired to strengthen Arsenal’s injury rehabilitation processes and will be a senior figure within the medical and performance department rather than a traditional team physio.
There has also been change within the existing structure, too. Simon Murphy has been promoted to head physio, replacing Jordan Reece, who has left to join Manchester United. Murphy joined Arsenal in 2021 from Leicester City and had been working as lead performance physio before stepping up to lead the physio department.
Tom Allen, head of sports science who joined from Villa in 2017, is also leaving, as is lead physical performance coach Sam Wilson, who looks to be heading to Juventus.
Spanish physiotherapist Joaquín Acedo, a long-time acquaintance of Mikel Arteta, will also continue working with the club in a consultancy capacity after spending last season reviewing Arsenal’s injury issues and supporting the squad.
He is not a permanent employee, but remains part of the wider medical and performance support structure.
- Arteta hints at Nwaneri loanMikel Arteta has hinted Ethan Nwaneri could leave Arsenal on loan again, insisting the youngster needs regular football to continue developing.
- Arsenal’s summer business so farFrom England’s World Cup exit to Bruno Guimaraes and Myles Lewis-Skelly, an Arsenal fan reflects on a dramatic summer before the new season.
- Arsenal 10% clause could activate with Newcastle saleArsenal could bank another transfer windfall as Newcastle hold talks over Joe Willock, with the Gunners due a percentage of any sale.
- Arsenal prepared to drop fee for 26yoArsenal are reportedly prepared to negotiate a lower fee for Fabio Vieira, giving Hamburg fresh hope of securing a permanent deal this summer.
- Arsenal v Manchester City previewArsenal face Manchester City in the Community Shield as Bruno Guimaraes eyes his full debut and Mikel Arteta deals with key defensive absences.