Mikel Merino has provided further details of the Arsenal warm-down last weekend that saw two of his team-mates suffer “freak” injuries.
Both Piero Hincapie and Martin Zubimendi were hurt during a post-match session that followed immediately on from the 2-1 Premier League win over Leeds at the Emirates Stadium.
Injuries during post-match session
Hincapie was carried off the pitch on the back of goalkeeper Illan Meslier in concerning scenes, despite Arsenal staff members being present, while it later emerged that Zubimendi had also received a knock during the same period.
Both injuries turned out to be ankle-related, with Hincapie’s said to be more serious. Neither player was available for the 3-0 Champions League victory against Lille on Tuesday night as they underwent further assessment including scans.
Arteta defends session intensity
Manager Mikel Arteta robustly defended the session amid questions over its intensity, insisting that nothing similar had happened previously in his seven years in charge at Arsenal as he claimed that the injuries could just as easily have been sustained in training the next day.
He also clarified that it was not a routine warm-down but rather a training session designed for players who did not feature or get many minutes against Leeds.
Arsenal often organise small-sided games for those who have not played much or at all on a matchday, bringing smaller goals on to the pitch at the Emirates.
Merino reveals challenge with Zubimendi
Versatile defender Hincapie came on for the last 10 minutes against Leeds as a replacement for left-back Riccardo Calafiori, while midfielder Zubimendi was an unused substitute.
Merino has now admitted that it was during a challenge with him that Zubimendi sustained his ankle injury, describing it as a “freak accident” as he backed his fellow Spaniard to return quickly.
“He [Zubimendi] is fine, he had his ankle a little bit hurt due to an action with me and if there is anyone that doesn't want to hurt him, it's me,” Merino said in a recent interview with Spanish radio station Cadena Ser.
“It was a freak accident in training but he's fine, he is a bull and recovers quickly.”
Return and next fixtures
After being described as now “much, much better” by Arteta after the win over Lille, Zubimendi is likely to return to Arsenal contention for Sunday’s trip to Nottingham Forest in the Premier League, which is followed quickly by a huge Champions League showdown away at Bayern Munich.
Hincapie will not feature in either match, though, with Arteta set to provide another update on the duo when he addresses the media during his pre-Forest press conference on Friday.
