Arsenal have been dealt a fresh double injury blow on the eve of their Champions League clash with Lille, with Piero Hincapié and Martín Zubimendi both ruled out after suffering freak injuries in a post-match warm-down.
The pair were absent from Monday's training session at the Sobha Realty Training Centre, and Mikel Arteta confirmed at his pre-match press conference that neither will feature against Lille at the Emirates on Tuesday night. It is a cruel twist for a squad that had just climbed to within three points of Manchester City in the title race with Saturday's 2-1 win over Leeds.
Arteta confirms the double blow
Arteta pulled no punches when he faced reporters on Monday afternoon, confirming the worst: both players are out of the Lille game and face scans to determine the full extent of the damage.
"Well, it happened, we had a training session planned, and there were two very unfortunate actions, [and] we lost two players," the Arsenal boss said, per Hayters. "We need to assess them; they're having further scans to assess where they are."
He later ruled them unavailable for Tuesday's match outright: "They are both going to miss tomorrow's match for sure. Tomorrow we will know more. Piero's one looks a little bit more serious."
Arteta admitted the timing was "far from ideal" but defended the decision to hold the session, insisting the freak nature of the injuries made them unavoidable. "It's very easy, you don't train. If you don't train, you don't get injured," he said. "It can happen at the Emirates, but it's never happened in the seven years that I've been here. Hopefully, it doesn't happen again, but what could I do? If I had a crystal ball I would just say 'guys, get in the Jacuzzi and I will see you tomorrow!'"
What happened in the warm-down
Both injuries occurred during a small-sided game in the warm-down session held on the Emirates pitch after Saturday's 2-1 victory over Leeds United. Hincapié suffered an ankle injury and had to be carried off the pitch by a member of staff — football.london reported that he was clutching his right ankle in clear discomfort, with fans who filmed the incident describing him in visible agony.
It is a devastating setback for the Ecuadorian, whose Arsenal career has been repeatedly interrupted by injury. It was his first appearance in over a month after a muscular problem in September, and he has now missed 16 games this season through groin and muscular issues, according to reports. Arseblog has gone further, suggesting the injury could be serious — potentially a broken foot or ankle that would mean a lengthy spell on the sidelines — though the club has not confirmed any diagnosis pending further scans.
Zubimendi, meanwhile, also picked up a knock in the same session and was absent from Monday's training, though less detail has emerged on the nature of the midfielder's injury.
An injury list that keeps growing
The double blow extends an already worrying injury list at the Emirates. Christos Tzolis was also absent from Monday's training as he continues to rebuild from the hamstring injury suffered with Greece during the international break, while William Saliba trained individually on the grass, away from the main group, as he recovers from the back problem that has kept him out all season — though his return to outdoor work is at least a step forward, with a return targeted for next month.
The absentees dent Arteta's rotation plans at the worst possible time. Both Hincapié and Zubimendi had been tipped to start against Lille, with the manager ideally wanting to rest key players ahead of Sunday's trip to Nottingham Forest and another European tie next week. Hincapié had started the opening Champions League win over Napoli to give Riccardo Calafiori a breather — now the Italian may have to go again just days after playing 80 minutes and scoring against Leeds.
There is at least some relief in defence: Timber came through his first Emirates appearance since March against Leeds, while Ben White and Ezri Konsa both started despite recent injury issues.
What it means for Lille
Arsenal will still be heavy favourites against Lille, but the absences hand the French side genuine encouragement. The Gunners have won each of their last 13 matches in the Champions League 'league phase', and Arteta will hope that European pedigree carries them through a selection headache he could have done without in the middle of a demanding October that still holds five more fixtures.
Beyond the Final Whistle: Arsenal's injury crisis is deepening at exactly the wrong moment — Hincapié and Zubimendi join a treatment room that already holds Tzolis and Saliba, just as the Gunners chase Manchester City in the Premier League and juggle a packed Champions League schedule. Arteta insists the warm-down injuries were freak accidents, but can his squad absorb another double blow and keep the season on track? Let us know in the comments.
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Arsenal have been dealt a fresh double injury blow on the eve of their Champions League clash with Lille, with Piero Hincapié and Martín Zubimendi both ruled out after suffering freak injuries in a post-match warm-down.
The pair were absent from Monday's training session at the Sobha Realty Training Centre, and Mikel Arteta confirmed at his pre-match press conference that neither will feature against Lille at the Emirates on Tuesday night. It is a cruel twist for a squad that had just climbed to within three points of Manchester City in the title race with Saturday's 2-1 win over Leeds.
Arteta confirms the double blow
Arteta pulled no punches when he faced reporters on Monday afternoon, confirming the worst: both players are out of the Lille game and face scans to determine the full extent of the damage.
"Well, it happened, we had a training session planned, and there were two very unfortunate actions, [and] we lost two players," the Arsenal boss said, per Hayters. "We need to assess them; they're having further scans to assess where they are."
He later ruled them unavailable for Tuesday's match outright: "They are both going to miss tomorrow's match for sure. Tomorrow we will know more. Piero's one looks a little bit more serious."
Arteta admitted the timing was "far from ideal" but defended the decision to hold the session, insisting the freak nature of the injuries made them unavoidable. "It's very easy, you don't train. If you don't train, you don't get injured," he said. "It can happen at the Emirates, but it's never happened in the seven years that I've been here. Hopefully, it doesn't happen again, but what could I do? If I had a crystal ball I would just say 'guys, get in the Jacuzzi and I will see you tomorrow!'"
What happened in the warm-down
Both injuries occurred during a small-sided game in the warm-down session held on the Emirates pitch after Saturday's 2-1 victory over Leeds United. Hincapié suffered an ankle injury and had to be carried off the pitch by a member of staff — football.london reported that he was clutching his right ankle in clear discomfort, with fans who filmed the incident describing him in visible agony.
It is a devastating setback for the Ecuadorian, whose Arsenal career has been repeatedly interrupted by injury. It was his first appearance in over a month after a muscular problem in September, and he has now missed 16 games this season through groin and muscular issues, according to reports. Arseblog has gone further, suggesting the injury could be serious — potentially a broken foot or ankle that would mean a lengthy spell on the sidelines — though the club has not confirmed any diagnosis pending further scans.
Zubimendi, meanwhile, also picked up a knock in the same session and was absent from Monday's training, though less detail has emerged on the nature of the midfielder's injury.
An injury list that keeps growing
The double blow extends an already worrying injury list at the Emirates. Christos Tzolis was also absent from Monday's training as he continues to rebuild from the hamstring injury suffered with Greece during the international break, while William Saliba trained individually on the grass, away from the main group, as he recovers from the back problem that has kept him out all season — though his return to outdoor work is at least a step forward, with a return targeted for next month.
The absentees dent Arteta's rotation plans at the worst possible time. Both Hincapié and Zubimendi had been tipped to start against Lille, with the manager ideally wanting to rest key players ahead of Sunday's trip to Nottingham Forest and another European tie next week. Hincapié had started the opening Champions League win over Napoli to give Riccardo Calafiori a breather — now the Italian may have to go again just days after playing 80 minutes and scoring against Leeds.
There is at least some relief in defence: Timber came through his first Emirates appearance since March against Leeds, while Ben White and Ezri Konsa both started despite recent injury issues.
What it means for Lille
Arsenal will still be heavy favourites against Lille, but the absences hand the French side genuine encouragement. The Gunners have won each of their last 13 matches in the Champions League 'league phase', and Arteta will hope that European pedigree carries them through a selection headache he could have done without in the middle of a demanding October that still holds five more fixtures.
Beyond the Final Whistle: Arsenal's injury crisis is deepening at exactly the wrong moment — Hincapié and Zubimendi join a treatment room that already holds Tzolis and Saliba, just as the Gunners chase Manchester City in the Premier League and juggle a packed Champions League schedule. Arteta insists the warm-down injuries were freak accidents, but can his squad absorb another double blow and keep the season on track? Let us know in the comments.
