Injury Woes for Arsenal as Hincapié and Zubimendi Face Setbacks, but Saliba Makes Progress

Arsenal's victory over Leeds has come at a cost, as defenders Piero Hincapié and Martín Zubimendi both suffered ankle injuries during the warm-down session. Manager Mikel Arteta revealed his frustration, confirming that both players will miss Tuesday's Champions League match against Lille. Scans are set for Monday to assess the severity of their injuries, with Arteta noting that Hincapié's issue appears to be more concerning. "We had a training session planned after the game for the players," Arteta explained. "Unfortunately, in two separate incidents, we lost two players who were meant to contribute in the upcoming match." The manager expressed disappointment but ruled out changing the post-match routine, emphasizing the need for players to maintain rhythm. "If they don’t get enough minutes, they won’t have the impact we need in matches. Injuries can happen anytime, even in training, and there’s not much we can do to prevent that," he stated. Hincapié and Zubimendi had been eager to make an impact, especially since they hadn’t started in the Premier League yet this season. Arteta also took aim at Illan Meslier, Arsenal’s reserve goalkeeper, for giving Hincapié a piggyback off the pitch instead of waiting for a stretcher, a decision the manager found questionable. "That's a different conversation for another time," he remarked. "We'll get more information after their scans today, but Piero's injury seems a bit more serious, so we’ll have to wait and see what the doctors say." On a brighter note, there’s positive news regarding William Saliba, who has resumed individual training as he recovers from a back injury sustained during the World Cup. Arteta is cautious about rushing Saliba back into action, stating, "We’re still discussing weeks before he’s ready to return." In the meantime, Gabriel Magalhães looks set to partner Ezri Konsa in defense against Lille. Despite missing a decisive penalty in the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain, Gabriel is ready to step up again if called upon. "I was disappointed after that miss, but I’ve learned from it. If I get another chance to take a penalty, I’ll be prepared to take it," he affirmed.