Arsenal Left Waiting After Another Defensive Injury Scare

Arsenal are waiting on scan results after Piero Hincapie was forced off through injury against Liverpool.

The Ecuadorian felt tightness in his hamstring early in the second half of Thursday night’s goalless draw at the Emirates.

The game was largely eventless, bar a controversial incident involving Gabriel Martinelli attempting to push an injured Conor Bradley off the pitch in frustration.

But way before that, Hincapie went to ground after briefly trying to run his pain off, prompting a discussion with Mikel Arteta and the medical staff.

The decision was quickly made to withdraw him, with Myles Lewis-Skelly coming on just before the hour.

It was an all-too familiar sight for a side that has spent much of the season managing defensive availability.

What Happened to Hincapie vs Liverpool?

Hincapie’s discomfort appeared innocuous at first. He signalled to the bench, received treatment, and tried to carry on.

The concern, however, is that he had to accelerate after initially feeling the tightness, which is where small issues can become something more problematic.

Arsenal are now set to carry out scans to determine whether the hamstring has been strained or if it is simply a precaution.

Until then, Arteta and his staff are left in limbo.

Arsenal Defensive Injuries

The timing isn’t ideal for Arsenal, who are already operating with limited wriggle room at the back.

Riccardo Calafiori is still out with a muscular issue, while Cristhian Mosquera is out with an ankle problem.

Gabriel Magalhaes has only recently returned after a thigh injury, and Jurrien Timber was asked to push through pain during the congested December run.

Ben White’s recent hamstring issue offers the Gunners some optimism. Initially expected to miss around a month of action after picking up an injury against Wolves, the England international responded well to treatment and was back on the bench inside three weeks.

The compounding injuries to their defenders have clearly had an effect on the team too. The clean sheet against Liverpool was their first in five games – perhaps the only positive for Arsenal on a pretty dull night.

Hincapie Injury Record

Since arriving from Bayer Leverkusen, Hincapie has become a key piece in Arteta’s rotation.

After overcoming a groin problem earlier in the campaign he has started the club’s last 10 Premier League matches.

His versatility has become so useful for Arteta. Comfortable at centre-back or left-back, he offers balance on the left side and allows Arsenal to manage workloads elsewhere in the line.

That flexibility becomes even more valuable when injuries begin to stack up.

It is also worth noting that Hincapie’s injury record is excellent. Across his career, he has missed just 10 matches due to injury, featuring in 212 games.

Those close to the player point to his ability to recover quickly and respond well to treatment.

Arsenal January Transfer Plans

Arteta has already acknowledged that Arsenal would be open to strengthening in January if the right opportunity presents itself.

An injury to Hincapie may prompt the Gunners to dip into the market, even for a short-term solution.

They may even enter the conversation for Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi but face competition from Manchester City and Liverpool, among others.

Whether Arsenal act will likely depend on the scan results and the projected timelines for those already sidelined.

For now, Arsenal’s focus turns to the FA Cup third-round tie away at Portsmouth on Sunday, before a first-leg semi-final clash at Chelsea in the Carabao Cup.