Mikel Arteta Reveals Arsenal Injury Latest With Hincapié Boost

Mikel Arteta has delivered a positive update on Arsenal’s injured players ahead of Sunday’s Premier League trip to Nottingham Forest, speaking in his pre-match press conference on Friday.

The Arsenal boss revealed that Christos Tzolis underwent a further MRI scan on Thursday to assess his hamstring injury, with the results showing encouraging progress.

He explained, ‘Doing really well. Yesterday he had another MRI scan to see how the injury was evolving. He is progressing really well, and another one we will hopefully have back in a few weeks.’

Tzolis picked up the injury on international duty with Greece earlier this month, and has been ruled out of the matches against Leeds United and Lille. His absence has opened the door for Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze on the left flank, with Madueke starting on the left flank against Leeds and Eze scoring his first goal of the season in Tuesday’s 3-0 Champions League win.

There was also good news on Martin Zubimendi, who missed the Lille game after picking up an ankle problem during a post-match warm-down following last weekend’s victory over Leeds. Mikel Merino has since admitted that the injury was caused by a challenge between the two midfielders.

Arteta revealed Zubimendi had already looked much better in training, and that a decision on his involvement against Forest will be made after Saturday’s session.

Piero Hincapié, who was injured in the same warm-down and had to be carried off the pitch, faces a slightly longer spell on the sidelines, though appears to be progressing quicker than the boss initially expected. Arteta suggested on Friday afternoon that the Ecuadorian would need another week or two, which looks set to rule him out of the trip to the City Ground and next Wednesday’s Champions League clash with Bayern Munich.

He said, ‘Piero is evolving really well as well, and knowing his character and the way he pushes everybody, it is not going to take long, I think, but he will probably need another week or two.’

When asked whether Hincapié could return before next month’s international break, Arteta added that he was ‘very hopeful’, but stressed that it would depend on how the defender responds.

Arteta was also upbeat about William Saliba, who has been sidelined since suffering a back injury at the World Cup. After assessments over the summer, the club decided against surgery and opted for a managed rehabilitation programme instead.

The France international returned to grass last week and has been carrying out individual work, and Arteta confirmed he will undergo another MRI scan next week to check on his recovery.

‘Every sign so far has been very, very positive,’ he said. ‘It will be great to have him.’

Saliba’s return would be a major boost for Arteta, though summer signing Ezri Konsa has impressed alongside Gabriel Magalhães in his absence. Arsenal are the only side yet to concede in the Champions League this season, with Konsa and Gabriel starting both clashes.

Arsenal face a demanding run of fixtures. After Sunday’s trip to Forest, where they have failed to score in three of their four visits since the hosts returned to the top flight, the Gunners travel to Munich before hosting Everton and visiting Fleetwood Town in the Carabao Cup.