UCL: Arsenal suffer double injury blow ahead of Lille clash

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta announced that Piero Hincapie and Martin Zubimendi will miss the upcoming UEFA Champions League match against Lille due to injuries sustained during a post-match training session. Arteta disclosed this information while speaking at the Sobha Realty Training Centre ahead of the match. The injuries reportedly occurred during a training session arranged for players who did not receive much playing time in Arsenal's 2-1 Premier League win over Leeds United on Saturday.

The club is awaiting further medical assessments to determine the extent of the injuries and how long the players will be sidelined. Arteta stated that Hincapie's injury appears more serious than Zubimendi's, but the club has not yet established a definitive recovery timeline. Both players were on the bench for the Leeds match, with Hincapie coming on as a substitute in the 80th minute.

Arteta defended the decision to organize the additional training session, stating that it was necessary to maintain the players' fitness and readiness. He noted that while similar sessions had not caused issues in the past, contact injuries can still happen during small-sided games. Defender William Saliba is continuing his recovery from injury and has resumed individual training on the pitch.

Arteta said Saliba's return to competitive action could be weeks away, depending on his progress in rehabilitation. Arsenal faces Lille in the Champions League on Tuesday, and the injuries present a setback for the team as they continue their European campaign.