There is a recognition that poor player availability cost Arsenal dearly last season. A thorough review has included training plans & particularly, workloads after players return from international duty.

Arsenal have taken decisive steps this summer to address a critical weakness that hampered their title charge last season: player availability. The club’s medical and performance departments have conducted a detailed internal audit, placing specific focus on how injuries — especially those following international breaks — affected team consistency during the 2024/25 campaign.

One standout example from the review was Gabriel Magalhães’ untimely hamstring injury against Fulham in April. According to sources close to the club, Arsenal’s internal data revealed that Gabriel hit a sprint speed during that match which he hadn’t reached in over two months — a red flag that wasn’t properly accounted for after he returned from international duty with Brazil.

This revelation has forced Arsenal to rethink their approach. The club’s backroom staff now believe that certain injuries could have been avoided with better individualised management of player workloads post-travel. Sprinting metrics, fatigue levels, and muscle elasticity are now being monitored even more rigorously — especially after long flights and congested international schedules.

Gabriel’s case was not isolated. Throughout last season, several key players suffered injuries shortly after returning from national team duty. This prompted the club to analyse patterns — and what emerged was a clearer picture of performance spikes and fatigue mismatches that likely contributed to those physical breakdowns.

While Arsenal have one of the most modern and data-driven sports science teams in the Premier League, sources say they’ve realised that even the best protocols still need real-time flexibility. Players returning from vastly different climates, time zones, and match intensities cannot be placed under a standard training regime. Adjustments are now being tailored in a far more individualised manner.

That said, club insiders were quick to acknowledge that not all injuries can be avoided. “There’s still an element of pure bad luck involved,” one source noted. “You can plan everything to the hour, but one misstep, one awkward stretch, and a player could be out for weeks.”

This review has also impacted Arsenal’s summer transfer strategy. According to reports, the recruitment team has added injury history and physical resilience to the top of their criteria list when targeting new signings. Availability is being treated as a key skill — just as vital as technical quality or tactical intelligence.

Mikel Arteta and Edu are understood to be aligned in this philosophy. As Arsenal look to compete on multiple fronts next season — including a deep Champions League run — they want players who are not only talented but also robust enough to handle the intense schedule.

Gabriel, for his part, is expected to be fully fit for the upcoming season. However, his injury remains a case study in how fine the margins are at the elite level. Arsenal now hope that the changes being implemented — from tailored return-to-play plans to improved post-international training loads — will significantly reduce avoidable absences this time around.

Ultimately, Arsenal’s ambitions of dethroning Manchester City and lifting silverware will depend on more than just tactics and transfer fees. They’ll need their best players on the pitch more often — and that starts with learning from the past.