Arsenal things you might have missed: Bukayo Saka goodbye, 14-year-old star and Riccardo Calafiori award | OneFootball

Arsenal have returned to form on the pitch - but what has been going on behind the scenes?

Arsenal made it three wins on the spin thanks to a thumping victory over West Ham last weekend.

The Gunners’ performances on the pitch have earned them plaudits as they fight to stay in the title race.

But there is plenty going on off the pitch at Emirates Stadium, too, and here Standard Sport takes a look at five things you may have missed over the past week.

Arsenal’s strength and conditioning coach for their first team, Barry Solan, has confirmed he is leaving the club.

Solan has been with Arsenal since 2015 after being brought to the club by the then head of performance, Shad Forsythe, when Arsene Wenger was in charge.

“People make a place and Arsenal are lucky to have a lot of great ones,” Solan wrote on Instagram. “Very sad to depart after pre-season, but a new adventure awaits.”

A number of Arsenal players past and present, including Bukayo Saka, commented on his post to wish Solan well in the future.

Dowman earns Nwaneri comparison

Max Dowman may just be 14 years old, but he appeared for Arsenal’s Under-21 side for the first time last week.

That followed on from Dowman playing for the club’s Under-19 side against Sporting in the UEFA Youth League earlier in the week.

Dowman has been tipped for a bright future and his performance against Sporting earned high praise from Under-19 head coach Max Porter.

Max Dowman is already making an impression for the U21 side at the age of 14

Arsenal FC via Getty Images

Partey travels to West Ham despite injury

Thomas Partey was not in the Arsenal squad for Saturday’s resounding win at West Ham, but he still made the trip to the London Stadium.

The midfielder arrived with the team for the game and watched it behind the dugout, along with members of the club’s backroom staff.

Mikel Arteta does not make it compulsory for injured players to travel to away games, but Partey was among Arsenal’s travelling contingent despite a muscular issue.

Players are expected to be in attendance at Emirates Stadium for home games, with some in the squad having their own private boxes.

Kiwior to follow Jover’s lead?

Several Arsenal players have shown an interest in coaching after playing under Arteta - but Jakub Kiwior has revealed a desire to follow in the footsteps of set-piece guru Nicolas Jover.

Growing up, the Poland international was coached by his father and that has had an impact on him as well.

“I wouldn’t want to be the head coach or the manager,” Kiwior told Arsenal’s match-day programme. “But maybe as part of the coaching team, I would be interested in that.

“Maybe something specialised like a defensive coach or a set-piece coach, but really I wouldn’t want to run a team because that would be too much.”

Nicolas Jover has played a leading role in Arsenal’s superb set-piece record

Adam Davy/PA Wire

Calafiori lands award

It was a great week to the start for Riccardo Calafiori as he picked an award on Monday after being named in the 2023-24 Serie A Team of the Year.

Calafiori was honoured for his performances at Bologna last season, where he played a leading role in the club securing qualification for the Champions League. He was one of only four players that doesn't play for Inter Milan to make the Serie A Team of the Year.

The Gran Galà del Calcio ceremony took place in Milan on Monday night and, given Arsenal’s packed schedule, Calafiori was unable to attend.

The defender was, however, presented with his award in London and posed for a photo with it at Arsenal’s training ground.