Key Arsenal figure announces he is leaving the club after three years in position

Paulo Barreira was a key appointment of Darren Burgess and is leaving the club on the expiration of his contract.

The 42-year-old wrote on his Twitter feed: "Thank you Arsenal for the great experience that was working at the club.

"Class to say the least to describe such a club. To the medical/performance staff, coaching staff, facilites managements staff, and all the players I wish all the best."

It understands that Barreira's contract was due to expire at the end of the season and that the club's decision not to offer him an extension is unrelated to the financial difficulties Arsenal are facing due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Barreira was one of a string of new fitness staff that joined the club following the appointment of Darren Burgess as head of high performance in the summer of 2017. The Australian proved to be a polarising figure in north London and was sacked in the days after the 4-1 defeat to Chelsea in last May's Europa League Final.

Barreira had worked alongside Burgess at Liverpool and was a key figure in the performance chief's plans at Arsenal where he was keen to break what he viewed as too close a link between players and their preferred physios.

Despite Barreira's departure Arsenal still retain a significant number of physios, including Jordan Reece, promoted to the first-team in the post-Burgess revamp of the medical department last summer. Tim Parham leads the club's rehabilitation work with senior players Chris Morgan serves as the Gunners' head of physiotherapy.