Arsenal were so close to a Premier League and Champions League double winning campaign, but now it appears the club are set for some changes in personnel
Arsenal have decided to sack head doctor Zafar Iqbal – and are also set to lose Under-21s head-coach Max Porter. The Gunners reportedly parted ways with Iqbal not long after the Champions League final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.
According to The Telegraph, the 51-year-old was summoned to a meeting on June 1 and was told his role had ended with immediate effect. One month previously, it was reported that Gunners’ manager Mikel Arteta had sought the help of Spanish physio Joaquín Acedo.
This decision came after a season disrupted by numerous injuries to key players. It’s unclear if this time period with Acedo had informed the decision to part with Iqbal.
FOLLOW OUR ARSENAL FB PAGE! Latest Gunners news, analysis and much more via our dedicated Facebook page
When Arsenal were handed the Premier League trophy at Selhurst Park, Dr Iqbal was seen celebrating with the players on the pitch. A matter of weeks later, he has been relieved off his duties.
It’s a huge change to make for the Gunners, even if there are still a number of months before the new season. They are also set to lose Porter, the Under-21s coach, who has also worked with the first team.
He is set to join Stoke City after nine years of working in north London in various roles. He has been in the capital since July 2017, when he started as an Under-9s football coach, before having spells with the Under-13s, Under-17s and Under-19s, until he became the Under-21s assistant coach in July 2022.
Porter was then appointed as the manager of the Under-21s last summer, after Mehmet Ali was hired as assistant first team coach at Brentford under Keith Andrews. Porter will join Stoke in a similar capacity.
He will arrive at the Championship side as part of Mark Robins’ backroom staff. Porter is extremely well thought off in north London having also worked within the first team set-up.
He will need all of his experience and more if he is to succeed at Stoke. The Potters endured a disappointing Championship campaign last season, only recording a 17th placed finish.
They started the season strongly and were still in the play-off places on matchday 19, but a 4-0 loss to Sheffield United proved to be the catalyst for an immense drop in form. Stoke tumbled out of the top six and while a brief revival threatened a late play-off charge, their poor form reared its head again.
Robbins has since been retained as manager by the club and the appointment by Porter has been dubbed as a show of trust in the ex-Coventry City manager. It’s understood the ex-Arsenal coach will fill the role departed by Paul Nevin, who left as assistant manager in February.
At present, it’s currently unclear as to who will take over from Porter within the academy set-up at the club.
Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package
Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.
Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.
