Arsenal Dealt Major Defensive Injury Blow for FA Cup Quarterfinal

Mikel Arteta saw a number of players return early from international duty.

Mikel Arteta could be without 10 players at the weekend. | Glyn Kirk/AFP/Getty Images

Piero Hincapié is expected to be absent from Arsenal’s FA Cup quarterfinal clash with Southampton after sustaining an injury on international duty.

The defender traveled to Spain for Ecuador’s friendly with Morocco on March 27, but was withdrawn in the closing stages of the encounter after picking up a hamstring complaint.

Hincapié subsequently missed Ecuador’s game against the Netherlands and The Athletic have now revealed that he will miss the trip to Southampton this weekend as a result of his setback.

Piero Hincapié was a casualty of the international break. | Izzy Poles/AMA/Getty Images

Mikel Arteta refused to commit to a timeline on the 24-year-old’s injury return when speaking to media on Friday, but Hincapié’s absence comes as a sizable blow for Arsenal ahead of a crucial week.

The Gunners follow up their journey to the south coast by visiting Sporting CP in the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal on Tuesday, after which they welcome Bournemouth to the Emirates Stadium in the Premier League.

Fortunately for Arteta, others could return from the treatment room on Saturday.

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Ødegaard, Timber Could Provide Welcome Boost

The Arsenal captain has been battling fitness issues all season. | Getty Images/Glyn Kirk/AFP

Arteta provided positive injury updates on several players ahead of the Southampton trip, insisting that skipper Martin Ødegaard and first-choice right back Jurriën Timber are “in contention to possibly be in the squad.”

Neither represented their countries over the international period after absences from the Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester City, but their possible returns will be a major boost for Arteta.

Ødegaard hasn’t featured since the north London derby thrashing of Tottenham Hotspur in February and will be particularly important in the coming weeks given that Eberechi Eze is sidelined for the foreseeable future.

Timber will replace Ben White in the starting lineup when passed fully fit, further strengthening the Premier League’s strongest defense.

Noni Madueke suffered and injury over the international period. | Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images

Noni Madueke was another casualty of the international break, sustaining a nasty-looking knee injury in England’s friendly draw with Uruguay. However, Arteta has revealed the issue isn’t as worrying as first feared.

“No, it’s not [serious],” said Arteta regarding Madueke’s setback. “It looked really bad, Noni was really worried especially after what happened to him in his other knee a few weeks ago.

“He was out for six weeks [last time], but no, he’s nowhere near that injury, so that’s really good news.”

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