Arsenal lose Hincapie and Zubimendi to injuries in post-match training
October 12, 2026 17:00
WHAT HAPPENED
A recovery-focused session was held at the Emirates Stadium for players who did not feature in, or did not play the full 90 minutes against Leeds. Ecuador defender Piero Hincapie, 24, who had come on after 82 minutes, was carried off the pitch by goalkeeper Illan Meslier during a small-sided game. Spain midfielder Martin Zubimendi, 27, who was an unused substitute, was also hurt.
Manager Mikel Arteta described the situation as "far from ideal" and said Hincapie's ankle injury appears to be more serious than Zubimendi's. "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," he added.
KEY CONTEXT
Arteta regularly organises short training games after matches so players who have not played a full match maintain rhythm across a congested schedule. He said the post-match session was intended to get "everybody in the best rhythm." The two players joined Arsenal last summer. Hincapie has made three Premier League appearances off the bench this season and started Arsenal's Champions League win over Napoli last month. Zubimendi has made five Premier League appearances from the bench.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
Both players will undergo scans to establish the extent of their injuries and provide a timeframe for any absence.