Piero Hincapie has returned to full training ahead of Arsenal’s upcoming Premier League match against Everton, providing a significant boost to Mikel Arteta’s squad after a brief spell on the sidelines, according to an Evening Standard report published on Thursday.
Training Ground Boost and Early Recovery
Hincapie has not featured for the Gunners since making a late substitute appearance in a 2-1 victory over Leeds earlier in the month. The Ecuador international suffered a freak injury during a post-match warm-down session, which subsequently kept him out of the matchday squad against Nottingham Forest last weekend.
However, the 24-year-old defender has accelerated his recovery timeline. After initially completing individual sessions ahead of the Champions League fixture against Bayern Munich, Hincapie participated fully in Friday morning’s training session.
Managerial Assessment and Squad Status
Mikel Arteta had previously cautioned that the defender could miss several weeks of action. Speaking on his availability ahead of the weekend fixture, the Arsenal manager adopted a cautious yet optimistic stance, stating, “Piero, let’s see. If he is able to train the next few days he can be available for Everton, which is great news.” Arteta later confirmed at his Friday press conference that Hincapie had successfully trained and was available for selection.
During the session, Hincapie was welcomed back by teammates and coaching staff with a traditional training tunnel initiation, highlighting his reintegration into the group. The same session also featured a milestone presentation for Jurrien Timber, who received a commemorative framed shirt celebrating his 100th appearance for the club.
Ongoing Fitness Concerns and Saka Update
While Hincapie pushes for a matchday return, Arsenal continue to manage several fitness issues across the squad. Winger Bukayo Saka was absent from the training ground as the club awaits formal scan results regarding a quad injury sustained just 10 minutes into the Champions League encounter at the Allianz Arena earlier in the week.
Arteta admitted that Saka’s robustness against injuries has dropped amid a relentless fixture schedule, noting that the player faced an Achilles injury over the second half of last season and during the World Cup, alongside hamstring, hip, and thigh problems. Saka was scheduled for another MRI scan on Friday afternoon due to fluid in the area, leaving Arteta unable to offer an immediate timeline for his return.
“We need a few more scans and opinions from the specialists,” Arteta said. “When a player is struggling to walk without any pain, he’s restricted in movement, they are not good signs. Let’s be a little bit patient so we can give a definitive assessment.”
In addition, Christos Tzolis remains a doubt for upcoming fixtures. The forward has been unavailable since picking up a hamstring injury while on international duty with Greece, leaving Arteta with ongoing selection assessments to navigate across the squad.