Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has another injury situation to worry about as his team prepares for the next Premier League match against Nottingham Forest. Piero Hincapié and Martín Zubimendi both suffered ankle injuries during an extra training session after Arsenal's 2–1 win over Leeds United on 10 October. What made the incident unusual was that two players were affected during the same session, leaving the club waiting for clearer recovery timelines.

Arteta admitted that he had not experienced a similar double injury incident during his seven years at Arsenal. The situation attracted attention because the session was intended to help players maintain their match rhythm, particularly those who needed additional work. However, the manager defended the need for such sessions, and there was no established evidence that the training itself was unsafe or responsible for the injuries.

Hincapié appeared to face the longer recovery period, with Arteta indicating that his absence could last weeks rather than days. That timeline meant Arsenal could not simply expect the defender to return immediately for the next fixture. The club would need to monitor his progress while considering its available options in defence, without rushing him back before he was ready.

Zubimendi's situation offered a different possibility. His recovery was expected to be shorter, potentially taking days rather than weeks, although his availability for the Nottingham Forest match remained uncertain. For Arteta, that difference mattered: one player faced a potentially longer spell out, while the other had a chance of returning sooner. Until his condition became clearer, however, Arsenal could not treat his return as guaranteed.

The injury news came as Arsenal continued their European campaign, beating Lille 3–0 on 13 October without Hincapié and Zubimendi. That result showed the team could still compete while dealing with their absences, but it did not remove the questions surrounding the players' recovery. Arteta also had to consider the separate situation of William Saliba, who was recovering from a back injury; his problem was unrelated to the two ankle injuries.

Arsenal's next Premier League test was scheduled against Nottingham Forest on 18 October, giving the injury situation immediate importance. The main question was whether Zubimendi could recover in time and how long Arsenal would have to wait for Hincapié. Arteta had already described the double setback as unusual, but the focus now shifted to the players' progress and the options available for the match. Until their availability was clearer, Arsenal would have to prepare without assuming either player was ready to return.