Arsenal have lost a few key players to Manchester United over the years to much frustration, and this may now be replicated off the pitch.
Robin van Persie and Alexis Sanchez were both superstars at Arsenal who then completed controversial moves to Man United, with vastly mixed results as Van Persie won the title, whilst Sanchez endured a nightmare spell before departing.
Club doctor Gary O’Driscoll then followed their same path from the Emirates to Old Trafford when he departed Mikel Arteta’s medical staff to link up with Erik ten Hag.
Arteta and his coaching staff handled Arsenal’s injury situation superbly this season despite his departure, and remarkably, the Spaniard was able to end the season with a fully-fit squad at his disposal.
The same cannot be said for Man United, who suffered with over 60 injuries in a disastrous campaign, and perhaps O’Driscoll’s move was more reminiscent of Sanchez’s rather than Van Persie’s in outcome.
However, United are now set to poach another member of Arteta’s medical team in a bid to solve their injury problems.
Arsenal physio Jordan Reece will join Manchester United
A report from The Mirror has now revealed that Arsenal physio Jordan Reece will now move to Man United, where he will link up with O’Driscoll again.
Reece is said to be “highly-regarded” by Arsenal, but United have made an offer which looks set to be completed after further negotiations.
O’Driscoll is reportedly pushing for Reece to join, given their previous experience together, and Arsenal do not want to loose him.
Reece played a big part in Gabriel Jesus’ recovery from a long-term injury last season, and is held in high regard by players who have worked with him.
Arsenal injury record improved this season
Arsenal have always had injury problems over the years, and a year ago they fell out of the title race as William Saliba and Takehiro Tomiyasu both picked up season-ending blows in the same game.
Under Arteta, several players have suffered from long-term problems including Jesus and Thomas Partey, and at times their recovery times were questioned.
Arteta once started Partey in a North London derby defeat at Tottenham, in which he picked up an injury just before half time, but was forced back onto the pitch by his manager to try and stop a counter-attack which ended with a goal, and he was forced off anyway.
This has improved in recent years, and the last few months saw Arteta welcome back Fabio Vieira and Jurrien Timber amongst others, and they were treated with caution during the title race.
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United and O’Driscoll meanwhile, have had a nightmare year when it comes to injuries, and they will hope that poaching Reece from Arsenal can help solve this. Arsenal meanwhile, will hope that losing one member of their staff will not impact their recent good work on the injury front too much.