In the last few days there has been a mini-exodus from Mikel Arteta’s backroom staff, with Assistant Manager Steve Round Head of Medical Services Gary O’Driscoll departing.
This has caused concern in some corners, but there is nothing to really worry about.
Round was one of Arteta’s first appointments, joining the club just 4-days after Mikel was named manager.
Having started his coaching career in 1996 at Jim Smith’s Derby, Round and goalkeeping coach Inaki Cana were Arteta’s only real appointments back in December 2019. The rest of the staff had worked previously under Unai Emery and Arsene Wenger.
His career had taken him from Derby to Middlesbrough, England, Newcastle, Everton, Manchester United and Aston Villa.
As well as Smith, he had worked with the likes of Gareth Southgate, David Moyes, Steve McClaren and Sam Allardyce.
In 2020, Arsenal had a bit of a backroom shake up, with the likes of Albert Stuivenberg, Carlos Cuesta and Miguel Molina joining the club. Round and Stuivenberg provided the experience to what was a fairly inexperienced management team.
Upon his departure, a mate of mine said “not a surprise, he was increasingly looking like a spare part”. And that is probably a fair assessment.
Over the last 12 months, we have seen the likes of Cuesta and Molina grow in influence. The pair often seen on the edge of the technical area barking orders.
Sir Alex Ferguson was brilliant at refreshing his backroom staff, often making changes every 2-3 years. This enabled new ideas and up-to-date coaching techniques to be bought onto the training ground.
When round joined Arsenal, he was Arteta’s number 2. With the rising influence of others, he has slipped down to 5.
With others around him growing in influence, Round’s experience is no longer essential. I would not be surprised to see him replaced by someone younger. Maybe a diminutive Spanaird who has recently retired…
West Ham have also seen a couple of backroom departues in the last week or so. Round worked with David Moyes for 6-years at Everton and Manchester United
Having potentially been sidelined as part of Arteta’s backroom staff, I would not be surprised if Round takes up a more prominent position alongside Moyes.
The other to leave is Arsenal Head of Medical Services Gary O’Driscoll.
The usual suspects who do not have a clue about football have responded as expected:
“He is the reason why all of our players were injured”
Enjoy having players injured Man U”
“He cost us the title by not being able to fix William Saliba”
I always laugh when fans blame medical staff for a players injury. It shows a complete lack of knowledge of physiotherapy, recovery and sporting injuries.
Last season, just 2 clubs suffered less injuries than Arsenal. But that does not suit the agenda.
It sort of reminds me when people go on about how poor we are at defending corners, ignoring the statistics that show we are actually one of the best at defending. These sort of people never let the truth get in the way of them bashing the club.
O’Driscoll is one of the most respected sporting doctors in the country.
He joined us in 2009. Prior to become our club doctor, he was Ireland Rugby’s Team Doctor. He also went on 2 British and Irish Lions tours as Team Doctor (to New Zealand and South Africa).
Upon his appointment former Arsenal physio Colin Lewin, who was part of the interview panel said: “He came in and was clearly very good at what he did; his trauma management was unbelievable having worked in rugby and on Lions tours,”
Born in Manchester, O’Driscoll nearly left us in 2020.
In March 2020, O’Driscoll had agreed to join Liverpoo, but had a last minute change of heart. working with Mikel Arteta influenced his decision to remain.
Speaking to a few people, there was always a feeling that O’Driscoll would take up a job back in his native North-West if the opportunity arose. And this summer a job has come up with Manchester United and he has taken it.
O’Driscoll’s family still live in Manchester, so his exit will not come as a suprise to many.
Neither of these departures reflect on Arteta or Arsenal.
One is an Assistant Coach whose influence was dwindling.
The other has just decided to return to his home city having lived in London for 14 years.
People will, of course, try and make a story out of these exist. Try to create a mountain out of a molehill. the truth is, people change jobs all the time. Football is no different.
Keenos
She Wore A Yellow Ribbon 
Thank you. A very informative article. I now know a lot more than I did.
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