Piero Hincapie absence explained as Arsenal missing five defenders through injury vs Ipswich
Piero Hincapie has missed out of Arsenal's clash with Ipswich Town with an injury(Image: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Mikel Arteta has been forced into a tricky line-up selection after several injuries emerged following the trip to Sunderland. The Gunners take on Ipswich Town in the third round of the Carabao Cup but have travelled light with two youngsters brought in too.
Marli Salmon starts in defence alongside Gabriel Magalhaes, while Myles Lewis-Skelly is forced back into a left-back role after Piero Hincapie is believed to have suffered a muscular injury, despite taking part in training this week. Martin Zubimendi appears to be playing right-back in the absence of Ben White, Jurrien Timber, Cristhian Mosquera and William Saliba.
White suffered what looked to be a groin issue at the Stadium of Light and was replaced at half-time by Jurrien Timber. The Dutchman played well and is being left out as a precaution having only just returned from a lengthy recovery from a procedure on a groin issue of his own.
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Max Dowman also got the nod in the midfield with Mikel Merino and Bruno Guimaraes. While the entire front three was swapped with Noni Madueke, Viktor Gyokeres and Eberechi Eze came in to start.
With a trip to high-flying Brighton on Saturday, Arteta will be praying that his defensive woes calm down and that the existing players not available for the game return soon. Ezri Konsa remains an option off the bench, but having played plenty in the past two weeks, he has been given a rest on the bench.
Theo Julienne and Ife Ibrahim are two other young stars yet to make senior competitive debuts who are on the bench for the Gunners.
Starting XI vs Ipswich Town: Arrizabalaga, Zubimendi, Salmon, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly, Merino, Guimaraes, Dowman, Madueke, Eze, Gyokeres
Subs: Meslier, Konsa, Calafiori, Ibrahim, Julienne, Tzolis, Saka, Odegaard, Havertz
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