Arteta Confirms Double Injury Blow as Saliba Resumes Grass Work Ahead of Lille Clash

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Martín Zubimendi and Piero Hincapié have suffered injuries, dealing the Gunners a double setback ahead of their Champions League clash with Lille, while William Saliba has made progress in his recovery by returning to individual work on the grass.

The injuries occurred during an additional training session organised after Arsenal’s 2–1 Premier League victory over Leeds United on Saturday for players who had not played enough minutes.

“We had a training session after the game for the players who did not have enough minutes. In two very unfortunate actions, we lost two players,” Arteta said.

The Arsenal manager admitted the situation was unusual during his seven years at the club, with both players now doubts for Tuesday’s European fixture as the club awaits further assessments.

“They’ll have further scans to see where they are, and we’ll have that time frame for how long they are going to be out for,” he added.

Arteta defended the need for additional training, explaining that players who feature less frequently must maintain their fitness and match rhythm to be ready when called upon.

Saliba Offers Encouragement

There was more encouraging news concerning Saliba, who has begun individual work on the grass as he continues his recovery. However, his return to outdoor training does not automatically mean he is ready for competitive action, and no confirmed return date has been established. <Cite refs={“turn562155search6″,”turn562155news3”}/>

Arteta Praises Former Teammate Giroud

Ahead of Arsenal’s meeting with Lille, Arteta also paid tribute to former teammate Olivier Giroud, praising the French striker’s character and career.

“We were teammates. A great character and a great person to have around the dressing room. What a career he’s had, and he definitely earned it,” Arteta said.

Giroud, who previously represented Arsenal, is now with Lille and is set to return to the Emirates Stadium for the Champions League encounter. His experience and longevity have made him a familiar figure to Arsenal supporters, despite his departure from the club in 2018. <Cite refs={“turn562155news5″,”turn562155news9”}/>

Arsenal head into the Lille fixture balancing the concern of two fresh injuries with the encouragement of Saliba’s recovery progress, as Arteta assesses his available options for the European tie.