Arsenal, the renowned football club, has been hit with an injury setback as their Deadline Day signing Piero Hincapie missed training ahead of the crucial Champions League match against Olympiacos. This comes as a significant blow to the team's preparation for the upcoming game.
Hincapie, who joined Arsenal on loan from Bayer Leverkusen in summer, has only made one appearance for the team so far. His debut came during Arsenal’s 2-0 victory over Athletic Club in a previous Champions League match this month where he played for just a few minutes towards the end.
The left-back player has been grappling with a groin issue since his debut which has forced him to remain on the sidelines. Despite this setback, Mikel Arteta, Arsenal's manager, reassured fans earlier this month that Hincapie's problem was not serious and he expected him to return soon. Arteta also highlighted that Hincapie was struggling due to lack of pre-season training following surgery he underwent in summer.
Mikel Arteta, Arsenal manager, said:
“There’s been a change of load, and he didn’t really have a pre-season after the surgery that he had,”
Upcoming match against Olympiacos
Arsenal is set to face off against Olympiacos in their second game of this season's Champions League on Wednesday night. The Gunners are entering into this match after winning their opening game 2-0 against Bilbao thanks to goals from Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard.
Arteta is likely considering changes for Wednesday’s home game against Olympiacos. Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly are hopeful starters while Martin Odegaard may get more playtime after making his comeback off the bench during last weekend’s win over Newcastle. Ben White might be brought into defence while Mikel Merino is being considered as a midfield option, should Arteta decide to rest Rice.
While Hincapie's absence may be a blow to Arsenal, the team has shown resilience and adaptability in the past. With potential changes in the lineup and other players stepping up, fans can look forward to an exciting match against Olympiacos. As sports fans and sports betting enthusiasts alike keep their eyes on this development, it will be interesting to see how Arsenal navigates this challenge.
