Arsenal suffer injury scares ahead of UEFA Champions League fixture

Arsenal have suffered a potential injury setback after Piero Hincapie and Martin Zubimendi were injured in a post-match training session after their 2-1 Premier League win over Leeds United. 

Manager Mikel Arteta described the situation as “far from ideal” as the club awaits further medical examinations to determine the severity of the injuries.

The session took place at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday for players who did not feature or failed to complete the full 90 minutes against Leeds. 

Ecuadorian defender Hincapie, who came on in the 82nd minute, was carried off the pitch by substitute goalkeeper Illan Meslier. In contrast, Spain midfielder Zubimendi, an unused substitute in the match, also sustained an injury.

Speaking ahead of Arsenal’s Champions League meeting with Lille on Tuesday, Arteta confirmed both players would undergo further scans to determine the extent of their injuries and how long they might be out. 

The Spanish manager admitted the injuries were unfortunate, with the club now waiting for a clearer assessment of their condition.

Arteta explained that the additional session was organized to ensure players who had received limited minutes maintained their match fitness and rhythm during a busy fixture schedule. 

He joked that the only way to guarantee they would not get injured was to stop training altogether, but warned that doing so could leave them unprepared when called upon to play.

The Arsenal manager also revealed that Hincapie’s ankle injury appeared more serious than Zubimendi’s. 

The defender has made three Premier League appearances from the bench this season and started the club’s Champions League victory over Napoli last month. 

Zubimendi, meanwhile, has largely featured as a substitute in the league, making five appearances off the bench.

Arteta said the session was designed to keep the entire squad at a similar level of readiness, particularly with Arsenal navigating a demanding run of fixtures. 

However, he expressed frustration over the circumstances surrounding Hincapie’s injury, particularly seeing Meslier carry the defender off the pitch despite staff members being present. The manager declined to discuss the incident in detail.

The injuries come at a crucial stage of Arsenal’s campaign, as the club prepares for European action and continues its Premier League commitments.