Mikel Arteta has confirmed Arsenal will be without Piero Hincapie and Martín Zubimendi for tonight’s Champions League clash with Lille at the Emirates (8pm WAT).
The pair suffered ankle injuries in a freak post-match warm-down after Saturday’s 2-1 Premier League win over Leeds — Hincapie was even carried off the pitch. Both are due to undergo further scans, with Hincapie’s injury described as the more serious of the two and potentially sidelining him for around three weeks.
Arsenal team news
Out: Piero Hincapie (ankle), Martín Zubimendi (ankle), Christos Tzolis (hamstring), William Saliba (back).
Available: Declan Rice, Kai Havertz, Ezri Konsa and Max Dowman were all passed fit before the Leeds game. Riccardo Calafiori is expected to continue at left-back, with Bruno Guimarães, Eberechi Eze, Jurrien Timber and Viktor Gyökeres pushing for starts as Arteta rotates.
Lille team news
Lille are arguably in worse shape. Tiago Santos is out for the season after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament against Le Havre at the weekend. Ethan Mbappé serves a three-match suspension for his red card against Real Betis and is also out for around three weeks with an ankle injury. Hamza Igamane (knee) remains a long-term absentee, while Romain Perraud is a doubt after coming off with a knock.
Match context
Arsenal opened their Champions League campaign with a 1-0 win at Napoli, while Lille threw away two leads in a 3-2 home defeat to Real Betis on matchday one. Tonight is the first-ever meeting between the two clubs. Veteran Olivier Giroud, 40, is in the Lille squad but is expected to make way for Ayase Ueda up front.
