New staff member spotted with Arsenal backroom team during 6-0 win, was expected to join this summer

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A new member of Mikel Arteta’s backroom team was spotted as Arsenal hammered Sheffield United on Monday – Zafar Iqbal.

The physician was picked up by Sky Sports cameras at Bramall Lane.

So, what is the situation involving Zafar Iqbal at Arsenal? Let’s take a look…

Zafar Iqbal has already joined Arsenal

Well – according to The Athletic – Iqbal was expected to join Arsenal this summer once a notice period had been served, having been poached from his role as Head of Sports Medicine at Crystal Palace.

However, the man now working as Head of Sports Medicine & Performance at the Emirates Stadium was seen kitted out in Arsenal gear on Monday night, helping Gabriel Martinelli off the pitch after the Brazil international suffered an injury.

You can see a photo of Iqbal working with the Gunners against Sheffield United here.

While The Athletic stated that Iqbal was expected to join Arsenal this summer, his LinkedIn page suggests otherwise.

It shows that he started working at Arsenal two months ago, so perhaps Crystal Palace agreed for the notice period to be shortened.

Whatever the reason, Iqbal has now officially started his duties with Arsenal after swapping south London for north London.

Arsenal are a well oiled machine

Arsenal have clearly placed an emphasis on recruiting the best backroom staff members for Arteta, and it seems to be paying off.

Following the appointment of Nicolas Jover as set-piece coach, the Gunners have remarkably scored 19 goals from dead ball situations in the Premier League this term, far more than any other club.

Arsenal are also ensuring that key players stay fit, while rivals such as Liverpool are forced to use fringe players following a mass injury crisis involving the likes of Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Thiago Alcantara, Dominik Szoboszlai and Diogo Jota.

Hopefully, Arsenal can maintain this situation – everything seems to be running perfectly after seven Premier League wins in a row.