Arsenal Hit by Double Injury Blow Ahead of Lille Champions League Clash

Arsenal have suffered an unexpected double injury setback ahead of their Champions League match against Lille, with Piero Hincapie and Martin Zubimendi both hurt in a training session following Saturday’s Premier League win over Leeds United.

Manager Mikel Arteta said the injuries occurred during additional work arranged for players who had not played enough minutes in Arsenal’s 2-1 victory. Hincapie appeared as a late substitute against Leeds, while Zubimendi did not feature.

Arteta said he had not experienced two such injuries in the same post-match session during his seven years at the club. The players will undergo further scans to determine the extent of the problems and how long they could be sidelined.

The setback complicates Arsenal’s preparations for Tuesday’s European fixture and highlights the challenge of keeping squad players match-ready while managing injury risk.

Source: Reuters report published by The Star, 13 October 2026. Featured image: Mikel Arteta (HPW NEWS media library, previously used).