Arsenal approach NASA to help them win the Champions League by reducing injuries at critical moments in the season.
NASA
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Managers sometimes look beyond conventional sports science when trying to solve persistent injury problems. Space research and major technology companies offer data that clubs believe could inform how players recover from serious knee issues. The approach reflects a willingness to examine every available avenue.
A report by Daily Mail Sport has revealed that Mikel Arteta and Arsenal consulted NASA and others for information on injuries, data analytics and technology.
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Reporter Isaan Khan exclusively revealed that Arsenal had consulted NASA for their expertise in space physiology, specifically regarding ACL injuries. The Gunners have been heavily plagued by fitness issues during Arteta’s reign and have seen two players fall to ACL issues.
Jurrien Timber picked up a problem on his Premier League debut in August 2023, which kept him out of action for all but the final minutes of the season. Gabriel Jesus also suffered an ACL injury in January 2025, ending an impressive return to form and rendering him unavailable until the end of the year. Such issues have not been limited to Arsenal’s first team as members of the women’s team and the academy have also been affected.
Louie Copley ruptured his ACL against Real Betis in pre-season while Leah Williamson, Beth Mead, Vivianne Miedema, Victoria Pelova, Manuela Zinsberger, Michelle Agyemang and Katie Reid have all suffered the same problem for the women’s team. NASA were viewed as a potential answer to the problem by the Gunners due to their extensive research into what happens to the body under reduced gravity and the response it has once back on Earth.
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Less gravity in space reduces the load on the human body and contributes to muscle atrophy and loss in bone density. The Mail revealed that Arsenal believed there were valuable lessons to take on board for their rehabilitation process for ACL injuries.
This included exploring areas such as how much weight an injured player should bear at different stages, how quickly that load should be increased, how reduced gravity exercise can allow players to resume running and loading movements earlier, and how to measure whether a player’s body is actually tolerating those increased demands.
Arteta’s search for information on key aspects of football was not limited to NASA as his side also consulted Google on data analytics. The company’s expertise in processing vast quantities of information could help identify patterns associated with the risk of injury and spotting subtle changes to running mechanics or physical output. Apple were also approached about the benefits of using wearable technology in order to collect physiological data and build a clearer picture of how the Gunners’ injured players respond to training and rehabilitation.
Approaching NASA, Google and Apple for key information on injuries that have potentially disastrous results for the careers of players shows how far Arteta will go for his Arsenal side, and the wider club at academy level and the women’s team. The consultations form part of a broader effort to improve availability across the club.
Max Dowman
Max Dowman
Mikel Arteta
Mikel Arteta