Arsenal’s defensive injury woes will not ease with Piero Hincapie limping off in the second half of their Premier League clash with Liverpool.
Hincapie was noticed limping around the manager’s technical area and Mikel Arteta approached the Ecuadorian to check on him.
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The defender collapsed at the end of the next period and lay on the grass in frustration receiving treatment.
It was quickly decided that he could not continue and was replaced by Myles Lewis-Skelly in the 58th minute.
Gary Neville said on Sky Sports commentary: “Hincapie’s injury will take away some of Arsenal’s height, but Lewis Skelly will give them more creativity at left-back.”
Piero Hincapi receives treatment from Arsenal doctors (John Walton/PA Wire)
Hincapie, who has started the past 10 Premier League games, was favored by Mikel Arteta after suffering a groin problem in his first two months at the club.
However, the Gunners now face a tense wait to find out the extent of Hincapie’s injury and see if their options at the back will be further strained, with defensive injury issues having plagued Arsenal’s season so far.
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Arteta is expected to provide an update on Hincapie’s condition at his post-match press conference at the Emirates Stadium.
There were concerns that substitute Lewis Skelly also had problems when tiptoeing away from a challenge on Jeremy Frimpong, but the Englishman eventually shook off the issue.
Arsenal are already without Christian Mosquera away to Liverpool after picking up an ankle injury in December, with Arteta saying the Colombian will be out for “several weeks”, while Ricardo Calafiore is also missing after suffering a “very embarrassing” injury away to Brighton.
Meanwhile, Brazilian superstar Gabriel has just returned from the sidelines after missing several weeks with a thigh injury.