Arsenal hit by double injury blow ahead of Lille clash

Arsenal will be without Piero Hincapie and Martin Zubimendi for Tuesday's Champions League match against Lille after both suffered ankle injuries in training.

Brit Brief 12/10/2026 15:14

Arsenal hit by double injury blow ahead of Lille clash

Mikel Arteta has been handed a selection headache for Arsenal's Champions League clash with Lille after two players picked up injuries in training.

The Gunners host French opposition on Tuesday night, looking to make it two wins from two in Europe after starting their league phase campaign with a 1-0 victory away in Naples last month.

However, Arsenal will be without Piero Hincapie and Martin Zubimendi, two players that had looked set to start.

Double injury blow in training

The pair both picked up ankle injuries in a training session on the pitch after Arsenal's win over Leeds on Saturday and have been sent for scans.

Hincapie was carried from the pitch by third-choice goalkeeper Illan Meslier and his is believed to be the more serious of the two injuries.

"They're both going to miss tomorrow's match, that's for sure," Arsenal boss Arteta said on Monday. "Today they're going to have a further scan and probably tomorrow we'll know more and then we'll see how they're going to go."

Likely changes to the starting XI

In the absence of Hincapie, Myles Lewis-Skelly could find himself returning to left-back. Arsenal have been cautious with Riccardo Calafiori's fitness and, particularly after he made three appearances for Italy over the extended international break, Arteta could opt to rest him here.

Mikel Merino could well come into the midfield, while Eberechi Eze and Viktor Gyokeres will both hope to get rare opportunities to start. Jurrien Timber is also an option to start at right-back if Arteta decides to keep sharing the minutes between him and Ben White.