Arsenal hire external physio for injury crisis review

Arsenal hire external physio for injury crisis review

Arsenal have hired a physiotherapist to conduct a review of the club’s recent injury problems, according to a report.

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Sam Wallace and Sam Dean report for The Telegraph that Arsenal have commissioned Spanish physiotherapist Joaquin Acedo to review the run of injury problems the club have dealt with this season.

Acedo is reportedly a friend of Mikel Arteta, and he’s been a regular presence around the Arsenal squad in recent months.

The report adds that there’s currently some tension at Arsenal over the number of times key players have missed important matches throughout the season so far.

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Transfermarkt recently did some analysis that showed the number of games that have been missed by players at each Premier League club this season, and Arsenal’s 232 games missed by 21 players put the Gunners sixth in the table.

That’s ahead of title rivals Manchester City, and quite a way clear of the league average of 184 games missed.

Those are also just Premier League stats, with the numbers considerably higher if you take into account the vital Champions League, FA Cup, and League Cup matches Arsenal players have been unavailable for.

Perhaps Arteta’s side would already have a trophy in the bag this season if they hadn’t been missing midfield trio Martin Odegaard, Eberechi Eze, and Mikel Merino for the League Cup final, along with starting right-back Jurrien Timber.

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Going into the final month of matches, Arsenal kick off May with Merino and Timber still sidelined, Kai Havertz ruled out against Fulham, and doubts around the availability of Odegaard after his midweek setback.

If this injury review can help to implement processes that reduce the number of significant injuries to the team next season, that would be a big help.