Arsenal strengthens its training staff thanks to the coach from Braga

Arsenal continues its move to strengthen its medical facilities and performance with the appointment of Antonio Gómez, who left Braga to join the club. According to Portuguese sources, Gómez, who was part of Carlos Vicens' coaching staff in Braga, will now work for the Gunners. His place in the Portuguese club was taken by Ramiro Marín, who last season worked as a physical training coach for Barça Atlètic, Barcelona's reserve team. The changes at Arsenal are part of a larger overhaul of the departments responsible for fitness, rehabilitation and medical care after several seasons plagued by serious injury problems. The club has hired Portuguese sports medicine specialist Arnaldo Abrantes as the new club doctor and head of the sports medicine department. Abrantes has left Aston Villa, where he was responsible for medical services, and will start at Arsenal this month, replacing Dr Zafar Iqbal, who was abruptly removed from his role after the Champions League final.  There has also been news that two of Abrantes' former Aston Villa teammates, both physiotherapists, have also moved to Arsenal in recent months, meaning he will be joining a department that already includes familiar faces from his former club. Arsenal also employs Eneko Angulo, who left Real Betis after 12 years as head of rehabilitation. Angulo is expected to strengthen Arsenal's injury rehabilitation processes and will act as a senior member of the medical and performance department rather than the team's traditional physiotherapist. There have also been internal changes in the club's structure. Simon Murphy has been promoted to head physiotherapist, replacing Jordan Reece who left for Manchester United. Murphy joined Arsenal in 2021 from Leicester City and worked as chief performance physiotherapist before taking up his new role. Tom Allen, head of sports science, who joined from Aston Villa in 2017, is also leaving, as is head physical performance coach Sam Wilson, who is likely to move to Juventus. Spanish physiotherapist Joaquín Acedo, a long-time friend of Mikel Arteta, will continue to work with the club as a consultant after analyzing Arsenal's injury problems and supporting the team last season. He is not a permanent employee but remains part of the wider medical support and performance structure.