Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta Comments on Hincapie and Zubimendi Injuries
BBC Sport - Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta expressed his concern over the injuries sustained by Piero Hincapie and Martin Zubimendi during a post-match training session following Arsenal's 2-1 Premier League win against Leeds.
Key Points:
- Hincapie and Zubimendi were injured during a training session held for players who did not feature in or play the full 90 minutes against Leeds.
- Arteta described the situation as "far from ideal."
- Both players will undergo further scans to determine the extent of their injuries.
- Arteta humorously suggested that perhaps the pair should have avoided training to prevent the injuries.
Details:
Arteta explained that Arsenal had planned a recovery session for the squad following the match, including a training session for those who did not play or played limited minutes. During this session, Hincapie and Zubimendi were injured in "unfortunate actions."
- Piero Hincapie (24), an Ecuadorian defender, was carried off by Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier. Arteta confirmed that Zubimendi (27), a Spanish midfielder, was also hurt.
- Hincapie had made three Premier League appearances as a substitute this season and started Arsenal's recent Champions League win over Napoli.
- Zubimendi has primarily featured as a substitute, making five Premier League appearances from the bench.
Arteta noted that such injuries are rare at Arsenal, having not occurred in seven years of his tenure. He emphasized that while they planned for recovery days, unexpected injuries can still happen during training sessions.
How the Injuries Occurred:
As per Alex Howell's report, Arteta regularly organizes small-sided games on the pitch for players who did not play a full match to ensure consistent fitness levels throughout the squad's busy schedule. This is how Hincapie and Zubimendi picked up their injuries.