Arsenal hit by two unusual injuries in training
According to Sports.
Why it matters
The loss of Piero Hincapie and Martin Zubimendi represents a significant blow for Arsenal, especially ahead of their next Champions League match against Lille. Injuries, which occur in a post-match training context, are rare and can negatively affect the team's preparation. The situation is particularly critical for Hincapie, whose ankle injury has been described as the most serious.
Key points
- Arsenal hit by two unusual injuries in training.
- Mikel Arteta said Arsenal lost two players to unusual injuries during a post-match training session, a rare occurrence in his seven years at the club.
- 'Never happened in seven years': Arsenal hit with two freak injuries in post-match cool-down.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said his team had "lost two players" to unusual injuries during a post-match training session, something that had never happened in his seven-year tenure at the club. After the 2-1 win against Leeds in the Premier League, the Gunners organized a training session for players who had not played many minutes. However, in two unfortunate incidents, Piero Hincapie was seen being carried off the pitch, while Martin Zubimendi suffered a similar injury.
Arteta explained on Monday: "We had planned a training session after the match for the players who hadn't had enough minutes, and in two very unfortunate actions we lost two players. It's not a good situation. We need to assess them today and do further tests to understand their condition and have an idea on how long they will be out. It's not ideal at all." Both players did not participate in training on Monday morning ahead of the Champions League match against Lille, scheduled for Tuesday evening.
The coach confirmed that both injuries involve the ankle, with the one suffered by Hincapie being the more serious. Arteta also showed disappointment that goalkeeper Illan Meslier took Hincapie off the pitch rather than a member of staff. "That's another aspect, not to be discussed here," he said.
When asked if it was possible to prevent similar injuries, Arteta replied with some irony: "Very simple, he doesn't train. If he never trains, he doesn't get injured, but the consequence of this is that when they are needed to play they have no rhythm and when you ask them to play they have no impact in the match. This could happen at the Emirates - it has never happened in the seven years that I have been here. It could happen tomorrow in training. It has happened before and I hope it doesn't happen again."
Hincapie was brought on in the 82nd minute against Leeds, while Zubimendi was not used. Arteta also provided positive updates on William Saliba, who has returned to training following a back injury suffered during this summer's World Cup. "He's been back for over a week, at least. Now we have to manage the load and the number of repetitions and consecutive sessions he can do. He is building his ability to maintain good standards and in the next few weeks we can start to reintroduce him into the team to see how we are doing and when we can make him available to the group."
Finally, Arteta stressed that we are talking about weeks before Saliba's return and he is not sure if he will be ready after the next international break in November. He added: “It's a very specific healing process and I can't tell you exactly how he will react.”
What happens now
Arsenal will now have to assess the severity of Hincapie and Zubimendi's injuries, with further tests expected to determine recovery times. Their absence could influence Mikel Arteta's choices for the next Premier League and Champions League matches. The team will have to adapt and find alternative solutions to maintain its competitiveness during the season.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the score of the match between Arsenal and Leeds?
Arsenal won 2-1 against Leeds.
How do Hincapie and Zubimendi's injuries affect Arsenal's standings?
Injuries may affect the availability of players for upcoming matches, but the direct impact on the standings is not specified.
When will Arsenal play their next match?
Arsenal will play against Lille on Tuesday evening.
What injuries did Hincapie and Zubimendi suffer?
Both players suffered ankle injuries, with Hincapie's injury considered the most serious.
Who took Hincapie off the field after the injury?
Goalkeeper Illan Meslier took Hincapie off the field, which disappointed coach Arteta.
