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Arsenal lose Hincapie and Zubimendi to injuries in post-match session

Summarised from 5 outlets · 6 reports · Updated 12 Oct, 15:38 · Archive

Piero Hincapie and Martin Zubimendi both suffered ankle injuries during a post-match training session after Arsenal's 2-1 win over Leeds on Saturday.

Arsenal have been dealt a significant blow ahead of their Champions League match against Lille, with both Piero Hincapie and Martin Zubimendi confirmed as missing through injury. The pair were hurt during a post-match training session held at Emirates Stadium on Saturday following the Gunners' 2-1 Premier League win over Leeds.

The session was organised specifically for players who had not featured sufficiently in the match itself. Hincapie, an Ecuador defender, came on as a substitute after 82 minutes to replace Riccardo Calafiori. Zubimendi, a Spain midfielder, was an unused substitute. During the training session, Hincapie was carried off the pitch, while Zubimendi also sustained an injury. Multiple outlets report both suffered ankle injuries, though one outlet reports Zubimendi's as a knee issue.

Manager Mikel Arteta confirmed the injuries in a news conference on Monday ahead of Tuesday night's Champions League encounter with Lille. 'We had a training session planned for after the game for players that did not have enough minutes, and in two very unfortunate actions we lost two players,' Arteta said. 'Not great. We need to assess them today and have further scans to see where they are then we will have a timeframe on how long they are going to be out for.'

Arteta indicated that Hincapie's injury 'looks a little bit more serious' than Zubimendi's. Both players have been ruled out of the Lille match. Arsenal will now need to reorganise their defensive line, with Riccardo Calafiori likely required at left-back unless other options are deployed.

When asked what could prevent such injuries, Arteta responded with humour, saying the simplest solution would be not to train. However, he defended the post-match sessions, explaining that players need to maintain rhythm for when they are called upon. 'Very easy, you don't train. If they never train then they don't get injured, but the consequence to that is when they are needed to play they have no rhythm and when you ask them to play they are going to have no impact in the game,' he said.

Arteta stressed that such an occurrence was unprecedented during his time at the club. 'It's never happened in seven years that I've been here. It could happen at the Emirates, but it could happen in the training session the next day,' he noted. He also indicated Arsenal would continue with their post-match training approach, saying the club had conducted such sessions 37 times in the previous season without incident and had no intention of ceasing the practice despite this setback.

The injuries compound Arsenal's existing difficulties, with William Saliba and Christos Tzolis already sidelined. Arsenal came into the Leeds match on the back of a 3-0 defeat to Brighton before the international break, making the win over Daniel Farke's in-form side an important result.

Arsenal lose Hincapie and Zubimendi to injuries in post-match session
Image: Evening Standard

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In this story: Mikel Arteta · Piero Hincapie · Martin Zubimendi · Arsenal · Lille · Leeds United · Emirates Stadium

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