Arsenal to appoint Crystal Palace doctor Zafar Iqbal as new medical chief

Arsenal are set to appoint Crystal Palace's Zafar Iqbal as their new head of medical services.

The Gunners have been on the lookout for a new chief club doctor since April, when the popular Gary O’Driscoll left the Emirates Stadium after 14 years in order to join Manchester United.

First-team doctor Florence Newton has stepped up to the role on a temporary basis since then, but Standard Sport understands that Arsenal are now poised to poach Iqbal from their London rivals.

As first reported by The Athletic on Friday, Iqbal is expected to work out his notice period at Palace, where he is the head of sports medicine, before making the switch at the end of the 2023/24 season.

Iqbal has been at Selhurst Park since the summer of 2015 and the days of Alan Pardew, having left his "dream job" as Liverpool club doctor months earlier for personal reasons following a family illness.

He had originally moved to Anfield in 2010 after spells at Tottenham and Leyton Orient.

Iqbal has also served as chair of the Premier League Doctors Group and co-chairman of the FA Medical Society.