Arsenal Suffers Double Injury Blow Ahead of Lille Clash

Mikel Arteta, manager of Arsenal, has confirmed a significant double injury setback for the team as both Piero Hincapie and Martin Zubimendi are sidelined. The players sustained their injuries during the warm-down session after Arsenal's Premier League victory against Leeds on Saturday. This news comes just ahead of Arsenal's Champions League fixture against Lille.

Both Hincapie and Zubimendi were reportedly on the bench during the match against Leeds and were not in active play when the injuries occurred. Arteta expressed his disappointment, stating that two unfortunate incidents during the post-match training session led to the loss of these players. "We had a training session planned for after game for players that did not have enough minutes... and in two very unfortunate actions we lost two players. Not great," Arteta said on Monday.

Further assessments and scans are scheduled to determine the full extent of the injuries and the expected recovery timeline for both players. The upcoming Champions League match against Lille presented an opportunity for Arteta to rotate his squad, especially with several key players returning from international duty and in need of rest. The absence of Hincapie and Zubimendi complicates these plans.

Hincapie's unavailability could necessitate a change at left-back, potentially seeing Riccardo Calafiori start again in that position. Alternatively, Jurrien Timber or Myles Lewis-Skelly, who featured in midfield against Leeds, might be called upon to fill in. Calafiori has been a notable performer for Arsenal in the Champions League this season, contributing a goal and two assists from defense, but he had been rested in the competition prior to this potential situation.