
Hincapié and Zubimendi out after warm-down injuries but Arsenal get Saliba boost
Defender and midfielder hurt after win against Leeds
Saliba resumes training on his own after back injury
Mikel Arteta has admitted frustration after Piero Hincapié and MartÃÂn Zubimendi sustained ankle injuries during the warm-down after ArsenalâÂÂs win against Leeds on Saturday.
Both are due to have scans on Monday to determine the extent of the damage, although Arteta said they would miss the Champions League game at home to Lille on Tuesday and that HincapiéâÂÂs injury âÂÂlooks a little bit more seriousâÂÂ.
âÂÂWe had a training session planned after the game for the players,â the manager said. âÂÂThey didnâÂÂt have enough minutes to get everybody in the right rhythm and in two very unfortunate actions, we lost two players.âÂÂ
Arteta described it as âÂÂfar from idealâ but dismissed suggestions he would change the post-match routine. âÂÂWhen they have to play, they have no rhythm, and when you ask them to play, theyâÂÂre going to have no impact in the game,â he said. âÂÂThat could happen at the Emirates; it never happened in the seven years I was here. It could happen the next day in the training session, and that has happened before, and hopefully it happens now and doesnâÂÂt happen again. What can you do? If I knew I had a crystal ball clear, IâÂÂd say: âÂÂGuys, go in the Jacuzzi, everybody, IâÂÂll see you tomorrow.âÂÂâÂÂ
Hincapié and Zubimendi were expected to feature against Lille having not started in the Premier League this season. Arteta seemed disappointed with Illan Meslier and his staff after the reserve goalkeeper gave Hincapié a piggyback off the pitch rather than waiting for a stretcher.
âÂÂThatâÂÂs something else not to discuss here,â he said. âÂÂToday theyâÂÂre going to have a further scan and probably tomorrow weâÂÂll know more and then weâÂÂll see how theyâÂÂre going to go. PieroâÂÂs one looks a little bit more serious, I think, but weâÂÂll have to wait and see.âÂÂ
There was better news for Arsenal as William Saliba has resumed training on his own as he recovers from a back injury sustained at the World Cup. Arteta would not be drawn on when the France defender could be back and is determined not to rush his recovery. âÂÂWeâÂÂre still talking about weeks,â he said.
Gabriel Magalhães is likely to be partnered by Ezri Konsa again against his former club on Tuesday. The Brazil defender insisted he would not hesitate to take another penalty in a shootout despite missing the crucial spot kick in the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain. âÂÂI was sad, and I didnâÂÂt want to miss a penalty, but I have learned from this and if I have another opportunity, I will be ready to take it,â he said.
