Arsenal have lost Piero Hincapie and Martin Zubimendi for Tuesday’s Champions League match against Lille after both players were injured in a post-match training session at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.
Manager Mikel Arteta confirmed the news on Monday. He said the pair picked up ankle injuries during a session arranged after the 2-1 Premier League win over Leeds United, a match we reported as Arsenal beat Leeds. The session was held for squad players who had not played enough minutes in the game.
Hincapie, 24, had come on as a substitute in the 82nd minute against Leeds. The Ecuador defender was carried off during the warm-down, and Arteta said his injury looks the more serious of the two. Zubimendi, 27, was an unused substitute on Saturday. The Spain midfielder was hurt in the same session.
Arteta calls it a first in seven years
Arteta told reporters the double setback was unlike anything he has seen at the club. “It’s never happened in seven years I’ve been here,” he said.
He explained that the extra session had a clear purpose. Players who sit out a match still need work, otherwise they lose rhythm and cannot make an impact when they are called upon. Both players were due further scans on Monday, and the club will set a return timeframe once those results are known. For now, neither player has a confirmed recovery date.
The timing is awkward for Arsenal. Hincapie has made three Premier League appearances from the bench this season, but he started last month’s Champions League win over Napoli. Zubimendi has also been used mainly as a substitute, with five league appearances so far. Both men were signed to give Arteta depth across a long season, and both are now unavailable at the same time.
A wider absentee problem
The Arsenal injury setback also goes beyond these two players. William Saliba trained on his own on Monday as he continues his recovery from a back problem. Christos Tzolis is another absentee, after a hamstring injury picked up on international duty with Greece. As a result, Arteta’s defensive options for the Lille match are limited.
Arsenal reached the Champions League final last season. They opened this campaign with a win over Napoli, and a home match against Lille offers a chance to build early momentum in the league phase. Instead, Arteta must reshape his side at short notice.
The domestic picture adds to the pressure. Arsenal sit second in the Premier League, three points behind Manchester City. City strengthened their position on Sunday with a 3-0 win over Liverpool at Anfield, a result that also underlined how quickly injuries can shape this title race. Liverpool had gone into that match missing key players of their own, a situation we covered in our report on Liverpool’s Isak and Gakpo absence.
Arteta, who committed his future to the club in our earlier report on his new deal to 2030, now faces a familiar test. His squad was built for weeks like this one. The next few days will show whether that depth is real.
Frequently asked questions
Why will Hincapie and Zubimendi miss the Lille match?
Both players suffered ankle injuries in a post-match training session at the Emirates on Saturday, held for players who had played few minutes against Leeds.
How serious are the Arsenal injuries?
The club does not yet know. Both players were due further scans on Monday. Arteta said Hincapie’s injury looks more serious, but no return dates have been set.
Who else is unavailable for Arsenal?
William Saliba is training individually as he recovers from a back problem, and Christos Tzolis is out with a hamstring injury sustained on international duty.
