Premier League3 hours ago1 minute read

Arteta Responds to Double Injury Blow Following Leeds Victory

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta defended his training methods after Piero Hincapie and Martin Zubimendi picked up ankle injuries after beating Leeds.

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Two Key Players Out After Training Incidents

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has defended his training schedule after Piero Hincapié and Martín Zubimendi were injured in a session right after Saturday's 2-1 victory against Leeds United. Both players picked up ankle injuries during the post-match workout at Emirates Stadium. Staff had to carry Hincapié off the pitch, and both players undergo further scans on Monday to check the exact extent of the damage.

Both players are definitely ruled out of Tuesday's Champions League match against Lille. Arteta admitted that Hincapié's issue looks a little bit more serious, calling the situation far from ideal as they wait for full feedback from the medical team.

Arteta Stands by Training Methods

Post-match sessions are standard practice for squad players who need extra minutes to stay sharp. Arteta explained that the coaching staff had planned the session for players who did not get enough game time, aiming to help everyone recover on Sunday and maintain match rhythm. He noted that the club ran the exact same setup 37 times last season without suffering a single injury.

Arteta questioned his staff about whether they should change their approach. He concluded that skipping training to avoid risk would only leave players unprepared when called upon to play. His main solution was simply asking the squad not to make too much contact during small-sided games.

Saliba Makes Progress in Recovery

In other injury news, defender William Saliba has returned to light training. However, Arteta refused to put a firm timeline on his full comeback, confirming that the centre-back remains weeks away from returning to action.

What it means for the next game

Arsenal vs Lille (Champions League, Tue, 13 Oct): Arsenal win 69%, draw 20%, Lille win 10%; expected goals 2.05 to 0.67. Our safest pick: Arsenal draw no bet.

Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal (Premier League, Sun, 18 Oct): Nottingham Forest win 18%, draw 26%, Arsenal win 56%; expected goals 0.79 to 1.60. Our safest pick: Arsenal or Draw.