Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has labeled the injuries sustained by Piero Hincapie and Martin Zubimendi during a post-match training session as “far from ideal.” The setback occurred following the Gunners’ 2-1 Premier League victory against Leeds at the Emirates Stadium.
The training session was organized specifically for players who did not feature in the match or did not complete the full 90 minutes. Arteta holds these sessions to ensure the entire squad maintains a consistent rhythm during their demanding fixture schedule, allowing the team to share a collective recovery day on Sunday before resuming training on Monday.
During the session, 24-year-old defender Hincapie was carried off the pitch by goalkeeper Illan Meslier, while 27-year-old midfielder Zubimendi also suffered an injury. Hincapie, who made a substitute appearance in the 82nd minute against Leeds, appears to have sustained a more serious ankle injury compared to his teammate. Zubimendi was an unused substitute during the weekend fixture. Hincapie, 24, came on after 82 minutes as Arsenal saw out victory against Leeds, while Zubimendi, 27, was an unused substitute.
Addressing the media ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League clash against Lille, Arteta confirmed that both players are awaiting further scans to determine the extent of the damage and their expected recovery timeframes. Regarding the unusual sight of a substitute goalkeeper carrying an injured player off the field despite the presence of medical staff, the manager noted that this is a separate matter he prefers not to discuss. They’ll have further scans to see where they are and we’ll have that time frame for how long they are going to be out for.
When questioned about whether the injuries could have been prevented, the Arsenal boss admitted that keeping players out of training entirely would eliminate such risks, but noted the negative impact on match fitness. “Never train and they don’t get injured. The consequence of that is when you ask them to play they have no rhythm and no impact in the game,” Arteta stated. It’s never happened in seven years I’ve been here. But what can you do, it’s happened now and hopefully it doesn’t happen again.
The manager expressed that this situation is unprecedented in his seven-year tenure. He joked that if he possessed a crystal ball, he would have instructed the players to simply relax in a jacuzzi instead of taking part in the small-sided drills that led to these incidents. While hoping such an occurrence does not repeat itself, he acknowledged the inherent unpredictability of professional football.
Both players joined Arsenal during the previous summer transfer window. Hincapie has seen action in three Premier League matches off the bench and started the club’s Champions League victory over Napoli last month, while Zubimendi has largely been restricted to substitute appearances, totaling five in the Premier League to date.
