Arsenal defender Piero Hincapie was forced off with an injury during Thursday night's Premier League meeting with Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium. The on-loan Bayer Leverkusen player hobbled from the pitch in the 57th minute and was replaced by Myles Lewis-Skelly with the score still 0-0.
The setback compounds Arsenal's defensive problems, with Cristhian Mosquera and Riccardo Calafiori both ruled out before kick-off. Manager Mikel Arteta confirmed the pair were unavailable, saying: "No. They're out again. I think pretty soon [they will return]. They have to go through the last stage of the rehab, and if everything goes well, hopefully soon they will be available for selection."
A victory would move Arsenal eight points clear at the top of the Premier League, following draws for Manchester City and Aston Villa on Wednesday. Arteta acknowledged the significance of the fixture, saying: "Excited. It's a massive game against the champions of the last Premier League. We have a point to prove."
Liverpool are one of only two sides to have beaten Arsenal this season, along with Villa, and Arteta was complimentary of opposite number Arne Slot. "Liverpool have a great manager," he said. "They have a sensational structural understanding of what they have to do."
The Gunners will be eager to maintain their position at the summit, with Arteta adding: "We are top of the table, we play at home against a really good opponent. We want to maintain our position."
