Arsenal have 2 new injury concerns pre-Port Vale clash

Mikel Arteta revealed on Sunday that Arsenal have two new injury concerns in Piero Hincapie and Noni Madueke.

Photo by Jack Thomas/Getty Images

Ahead of Arsenal’s game against Manchester City, Gunners fans were surprised to see summer signing Piero Hincapie not involved in the squad.

Initially, it was assumed that there just wasn’t space for Hincapie, with Ben White and Bukayo Saka returning to fitness to use up squad spots. But Mikel Arteta confirmed the decision was actually related to injury.

“Martin Odegaard wasn’t fit enough to be [on the bench], Piero as well, he’s out of the squad,” Arteta said.

Photo via Arsenal.com

Hincapie had made his debut for Arsenal earlier in the week, playing a few minutes of injury time away in Bilbao. The 23-year-old seemed to end the match without any visible issues, so it’s hard to say exactly what the problem is.

As for Noni Madueke, the winger started the match against City and played 45 minutes, but he was withdrawn at half-time after slightly limping off the pitch.

“He had an issue very early in the match and he wasn’t well enough to continue,” Arteta confirmed afterwards.

Photo by Jack Thomas/Getty Images

The pair will both now be doubts for Wednesday’s League Cup game against Port Vale. Arteta would have been expected to rotate heavily anyway, but that would arguably provide a good chance for Hincapie to make his first start.

Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz remain out for the long term, whilst Odegaard is closing in on a comeback after his second shoulder injury of the season.

The midfielder was seemingly not far off a return against City, but given he wasn’t fit enough to make the bench, a comeback away to Newcastle United may be more realistic than involvement in the Port Vale clash.