Arsenal are grappling with yet another defensive setback before their Premier League showdown with Brighton this Saturday. Piero Incapie has suffered a muscle injury, rendering him unavailable for the recent EFL Cup win over Ipswich Town, which ended 4-2 in the Gunners' favour.
The Ecuadorian was in contention for a starting spot, but his injury has seen him miss even the matchday squad altogether. According to Football.London, the injury is muscular in nature, and his availability for the trip to Amex Stadium remains uncertain.
Adding to Arsenal's woes, William Saliba is still recovering from a back injury sustained during the World Cup, while Cristian Mosquera has missed the last four matches due to a muscle problem.
Meanwhile, Ben White was substituted at half-time during the recent encounter with Sunderland, making way for Jurriën Timber who has only just returned from a lengthy absence and was rested in the EFL Cup fixture.
Following the victory over Ipswich, Mikel Arteta refrained from naming specific players but acknowledged the squad's current fitness concerns, suggesting caution from the coaching staff.
Arteta stated:
Some players were feeling fatigued, and a few of them had actual problems, so we have to be careful with their condition. However, we do have other players available who are fresher and better prepared for the game.
One of the standout performers in the match against Ipswich was 16-year-old Max Dougan, who netted a brace. Arteta hinted that the young forward could also see minutes in the Premier League:
Anything is possible. The odds are usually very slim because you rarely see players of that age managing the physical demands of the game.
It’s not just about that, but the workload throughout the week needed to be ready for matches, the volume of information, and the challenges they face.
But he is handling it and doing very well every time he gets the chance.
