Arsenal blow as Piero Hincapie and Martin Zubimendi injured
Piero Hincapie and Martin Zubimendi picked up injuries during a post-match training session at Emirates Stadium following Arsenal's win over Leeds.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Piero Hincapie and Martin Zubimendi sustained injuries in a post-match training session.
- Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta joked that the pair simply should not have trained.
- Hincapie, 24, was carried off the pitch by backup goalkeeper Illan Meslier.
- The session was planned to keep squad fitness aligned across the busy fixture schedule.
Arsenal have been hit with fresh fitness concerns after defender Piero Hincapie and midfielder Martin Zubimendi picked up injuries during a post-match training session at Emirates Stadium, following the team's victory over Leeds United.
The session was arranged by manager Mikel Arteta specifically for players who either did not feature or did not play the full 90 minutes against Leeds. The club's schedule aimed to give all squad members a recovery day on Sunday and resume full training on Monday, keeping player outputs balanced.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
During the workout on the Emirates pitch, 24-year-old Ecuador defender Hincapie—who came on in the 82nd minute against Leeds—was carried off the pitch on the back of substitute goalkeeper Illan Meslier, despite staff members being present. Arteta later confirmed that 27-year-old Spain midfielder Zubimendi, an unused substitute in the match, also sustained an injury.
When asked by the press what could have been done to prevent the setbacks, Arteta joked in response that the pair should not have taken part in the training session. Hincapie has made three substitute appearances in the Premier League this season alongside a start in the Champions League win against Napoli, while Zubimendi has featured from the bench five times in the league.
"They shouldn't have trained."
Mikel Arteta
Implementing post-match small-sided games or training drills for unused substitutes is a common practice among modern football clubs to bridge the gap in match sharpness compared to regular starters. However, these sessions carry inherent risks of accidental injuries, forcing managers to continuously weigh squad fitness maintenance against the threat of losing depth during grueling seasonal fixture lists.
Source: BBC Sport
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