Have Arsenal Got Better With Injuries?

With more injuries than most other top teams the fitness department at Arsenal has not been known for its good work over the years. However, many believe Arsenal have turned that particular corner. So, what has changed their opinion?

First of all Wenger added Shad Forsythe, who made himself a name with being the head fitness coach of the German national team from 2004 to 2014, to the back-room team last summer.

Forsythe worked for the American organisation EXOS until he joined Arsenal. Their main aim is to maximise the performance score of every sports man. Nutrition, mindset, movement and recovery are the foundation stones of their work.

His fine work and organisation for the German national side was recognised by Wenger and he swooped to add him to the club in the search for the answer to Arsenal's injury woes.

Wenger was quoted saying:

"He would not be here if I was not impressed. We are trying to be as good as we can everywhere. We might bring somebody else in to be as accurate as possible and preventative as well. We can still improve in some departments to prepare better."

Forsythe was interviewed on the 18th of August 2014 by the DFB (German football federation) which may give you a better insight on what he is now doing at Arsenal.

How had you been approached by Arsenal?

"I took a flight to London in May [2014] and met Wenger for a meet and greet. No job offer had been made by then, we just wanted to talk first."

What are you going to do at Arsenal?

"On my business card is 'Head of Athletic Performance Enhancement'. I am responsible for the fitness of the team. That includes the training work, even on match days. Tonight we are already flying to Istanbul for a CL qualifier against Besiktas. For this purpose, but also includes the networking at the club, such as between the departments - fitness and medicine. Arsenal has outstanding experts in each area."

With Per Mertesacker, Mesut Özil and Lukas Podolski three Germans are contracted at Arsenal. Has the German trio been promoting you?

"Maybe a little bit, but that had not been decisive. It was important that I could do three weeks of training with the squad before the return of Per, Mesut and Lukas. I wanted to forge a good personal relationship with the Arsenal players on my own and not with the help of the Germans [I already knew]."

Ten years now Nick Hornby and millions of Arsenal fans wait for another league trophy. Last year Arsenal stopped some long-term injuries and you'll be especially judged on the preventive front of your fitness work.

"The expectations among Arsenal supporters is always that we play for the title. Arsenal has always been a top team. The criticism that the squad is not deep enough [because of injuries] shouldn't be the only motivation for summer transfers. Prevention is key, the dosage of the training is crucial - both the frequency as well as the intensity of the units. Our approach is always individual, we take into account the bio-mechanical principles for each player to create with them the best conditions so that our team stays healthy and that's how we achieved results"

Mark Verstegen, founder of EXOS, worked with Forsythe and said the following.

"Shad has a lot of work to do. The player buy-in, how they set the right systems up – which may need investment – like we did with the DFB in 2004 so we could focus on each player and make sure the staff is there to support them. Every day. It's a cultural change. It doesn't happen overnight. But it is a very powerful move by the organisation to do that. What you saw from the DFB commitment to this renaissance was that everyone from bus driver, kit man, everyone is evaluated towards this new culture. [...] There has to be a commitment from the club to say: 'we believe in a performance culture."

As a result of Shad joining Arsenal fitness training has become more individualised and modern training methods are implemented to reduce over-training. Preventing players from picking up injuries in training and organisation of better rehabilitation programs to reduce set backs were the main issues to be addressed.

Has Forsythe had any effect on reducing injury lay-offs already?

Arsenal topped the injury table in 2013/14 prior to Shad starting work with Arsenal. The impact of Shad Forsythe and his methods weren't going to changes Arsenal's fortunes overnight as Mark Verstegen mentioned, it's a process that takes time, but you might be surprised at what has been achieved in just a season.

The total of weeks lost to injuries was reduced by 62 weeks within one year - which is a lot. Compared to Chelsea's 14 weeks of reduction it looks quite good.

In total it is not a huge improvement, because Chelsea had players injured for 92 weeks in 2014/15 which was the lowest number in the Premier League. In addition you have to take into account that it was a post World Cup season which makes Chelsea's numbers look even better. Arsenal came 5th in the injury table with 227 weeks in 2015. It is a huge gap and a long way to catch Chelsea's or Man City's medical teams.

Diaby's move to Marseille will have an influence on the statistics this year. In 14/15 Abou Diaby played no league games and only one league game in 13/14. Diaby joined Arsenal in January 2006 and has been out injured for 1554 days (222 weeks) of his 3339 days at Arsenal. 46.5% of his Arsenal career was spent on the sidelines. His two last seasons made it impossible to think about extending his contract. I always admired him but he never could overcome his injury problems. I wish him all the best at Marseille.

The next steps are being made

With the beginning of the 2015/16 season Arsenal has brought some new faces in to the backroom team again.

The acquisition of strength and conditioning coach Barry Solon makes sense when you take a look at his CV. Solon also worked for EXOS in the past. Bringing in somebody who has worked with the Polish and German national team is a good sign.

In 2012 Solon told Mayo news (newspaper in the region of Ireland where he was raised) about his new role for the Polish national team:

"I think my time in Arizona at the Athletes Performance Centre has played a huge role. It's probably the leading training facility on the planet. It's through them that I got the Polish job and while there I was working with athletes from the Argentinian rugby team as well as Ice Hockey and NFL stars."

He has become Shad Forsythe's assistant which means that Arsenal have two fitness coaches who have worked at the highest level already and know each other well from working for the DFB.

Declan Lynch was replaced by physiotherapist James Haycock, former Head of Medical at Huddersfield Town. Haycock had quickly gained the attention of one of Europe's elite clubs having only joined Huddersfield in July 2012.

The new fitness coaching additions Arsenal have made have a lot of experience in injury management and prevention and it should pay off in the coming years.

Forsythe is no faith healer and major injury blows like Giroud's broken leg last season can happen. As a consequence preventative work is of greater relevance but there is also a focus on reducing lengthy injuries of first team stars and despite the Giroud blow adding weeks to our injury statistics quite a few were shaved off when Giroud made his first team return a month ahead of schedule.

Prevention and improved rehabilitation will keep our first team together for longer periods and hopefully increases Arsenal's chances of winning more major trophies in the future.

Yes, Arsenal has made progress but we are only at the beginning.

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