Not Timber: £34.5m Arsenal star doubtful for Brighton game with muscle injury
Arsenal defender Piero Hincapie picked up a muscle injury before the Carabao Cup third-round tie against Ipswich Town yesterday, according to football.london journalist Tom Canton.
The Gunners continued their winning start to the season with a 4-2 victory over Ipswich on the road.
Max Dowman was the man of the match with a goal in either half, while Noni Madueke and Mikel Merino were likewise on the scoresheet.
Meanwhile, some notable players were absent. Ben White was sidelined after an apparent groin injury against Sunderland, while Cristhian Mosquera (muscle) and William Saliba (back) were ruled out too.
Jurrien Timber, on the other hand, was left out as a precautionary measure, given he has just returned from a groin concern of his own.
Alongside the quartet, there was another surprise absentee in the form of Hincapie, who sustained a muscular injury in the lead-up to the game, as per Canton.
The Ecuadorian ace joined the Gunners permanently from Bayer Leverkusen this summer for £34.5 million after a successful season-long loan.
He has been used sparingly in the Premier League this term with just 30 minutes, given Riccardo Calafiori has been an undisputed starter so far.
Hincapie has started two games in the Community Shield and Champions League, and would have last night too if not for the untimely injury.
Arteta did not provide a clear-cut update on the ex-Leverkusen man, but his absence from the squad suggests that he was not fit for the trip.
We should learn more about his condition at the pre-match press conference before the Premier League match at Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday afternoon.
Arsenal have won their last three games against Brighton. They secured a slender 1-0 victory on the South Coast last term, where the hosts dominated possession.
Brighton have been free-scoring this season with 17 goals in six games thus far, and the Gunners could face a tougher away test than the recent outing at Sunderland.
Arsenal should still fancy a win against a Brighton side that prefer an open contest.
The club have 24 hours more to prepare for the weekend encounter, given that the Seagulls face Manchester United on the road in the Carabao Cup third round tonight.
Stats from Transfermarkt.com
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