Two Arsenal players injured during post‑match training session

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has described it as far from ideal that Piero Hincapie and Martin Zubimendi were injured during a post‑match training session following the Gunners’ 2‑1 Premier League win over Leeds.

A post‑match training session was held at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday for players who did not feature or had not completed the full 90 minutes against Leeds.

During the session, Ecuadorian defender Hincapie was stretchered off by goalkeeper Illan Meslier, and manager Arteta later confirmed that Spanish midfielder Martin Zubimendi had also sustained an injury.

Hincapie, aged 24, entered the match in the 82nd minute as Arsenal secured the victory, whereas Zubimendi, 27, remained an unused substitute.

“We had planned a training session after the match for players who didn’t receive enough minutes, and in two unfortunate incidents we lost two players,” Arteta said at a press conference ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League clash with Lille.

Both players will undergo additional scans to assess the extent of their injuries, after which the club will provide an estimate of their expected recovery time.

When asked how the injuries could have been avoided, Arteta joked that the players simply should not have trained.

“Never train and they won’t get injured. The downside is that when you ask them to play they lack rhythm and impact,” the Spaniard added.

“I’ve never seen anything like this in my seven years here; it could happen in the next training session,” he remarked.

“It has happened now, and we hope it won’t recur, but what can you do?”

“If I had a crystal ball, I’d simply say, ‘Guys, get in the jacuzzi and I’ll see you tomorrow.’”

Hincapie has made three substitute appearances in the Premier League this season and also started Arsenal’s Champions League victory over Napoli last month.

Zubimendi has likewise featured mainly as a substitute, registering five Premier League cameo appearances this season.

Source link