Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has expressed his frustration after Piero Hincapié and Martín Zubimendi picked up ankle injuries during a post-match warm-down following the club's victory over Leeds on Saturday.
Both players are set to undergo scans on Monday to assess the severity of their injuries, but Arteta has already confirmed that neither will be available for Tuesday's Champions League fixture against Lille at the Emirates Stadium. The Arsenal boss indicated particular concern over Hincapié's condition, suggesting it could be the more significant of the two problems.
Explaining the circumstances behind the injuries, Arteta revealed that a training session had been arranged for players who had not accumulated sufficient match minutes. "We had a training session planned after the game for the players," he said. "They didn't have enough minutes to get everybody in the right rhythm and in two very unfortunate actions, we lost two players."
The manager acknowledged the situation was less than ideal but pushed back against any notion that Arsenal would alter their approach to post-match sessions going forward. He argued that the alternative—leaving players short of match sharpness—carries its own risks. "When they have to play, they have no rhythm, and when you ask them to play, they're going to have no impact in the game," Arteta explained. He noted that such freak incidents had never occurred during his seven years in charge at the Emirates, while similar mishaps have happened during regular training sessions in the past. "What can you do? If I knew I had a crystal ball clear, I'd say: 'Guys, go in the Jacuzzi, everybody, I'll see you tomorrow,'" he added, reflecting on the unpredictable nature of such setbacks.
Both Hincapié and Zubimendi had been tipped to feature against Lille, having yet to start a Premier League match this season. There also appeared to be some irritation from Arteta regarding how Hincapié's injury was handled immediately afterward, with reserve goalkeeper Illan Meslier opting to carry the defender off the pitch on his back rather than waiting for a stretcher. "That's something else not to discuss here," Arteta remarked when pressed on the matter. "Today they're going to have a further scan and probably tomorrow we'll know more and then we'll see how they're going to go. Piero's one looks a little bit more serious, I think, but we'll have to wait and see."
Amid the injury concerns, there was a positive development on another front, with William Saliba returning to individual training as he continues his recovery from a back problem sustained during the World Cup. Arteta remained cautious about providing a definitive timeline for the France international's return, stressing that the club has no intention of rushing his rehabilitation. "We're still talking about weeks," he stated.
With Saliba still sidelined, Gabriel Magalhães is expected to continue his partnership with Ezri Konsa in central defense against Lille—a club with which Gabriel has previous ties. The Brazilian defender also addressed his missed penalty in the Champions League final shootout against Paris Saint-Germain, insisting the experience would not deter him from stepping up again in future. "I was sad, and I didn't want to miss a penalty, but I have learned from this and if I have another opportunity, I will be ready to take it," Gabriel said.
Arsenal will now look to navigate their European campaign without two potential squad options, as Arteta assesses the full extent of the damage in the coming days.
Based on reporting from Guardian Football.