According to a report by the London Evening Standard published on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, Arsenal have received encouraging news regarding Piero Hincapie’s recovery after the Ecuadorian defender returned to individual training ahead of their UEFA Champions League meeting with Bayern Munich.

The 24-year-old has resumed light training following an ankle injury, raising hopes that he could return to the squad before the upcoming international break. His progress will be welcomed by manager Mikel Arteta, who is preparing his team for a demanding period of the season.

Hincapie has missed Arsenal’s last two matches after suffering the injury during a training session shortly after the club’s victory over Leeds United. The defender had featured during the closing ten minutes of that game before taking part in additional exercises at the Emirates Stadium.

However, his recovery plans were disrupted when he injured his ankle during the session. The incident required goalkeeper Illan Meslier to carry him off the pitch, prompting concerns about the seriousness of the problem and how long he would remain unavailable.

Following medical examinations, Arteta suggested that the defender could spend several weeks recovering. Nevertheless, Hincapie’s return to the training ground on Tuesday afternoon indicates that his rehabilitation is progressing positively.

The defender completed individual exercises away from the main group as he gradually increases his workload. Despite the improvement, he is not expected to be available for Wednesday night’s Champions League encounter against Bayern Munich.

Arsenal will continue to monitor his condition before determining when he can resume full training and return to competitive action. If his recovery continues without complications, Hincapie could become available before the international break, giving Arteta an additional option in defence.

Meanwhile, goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga took part in Arsenal’s final training session before the team travelled to Germany. He had missed Sunday’s match against Nottingham Forest because of a minor fitness problem, with Meslier occupying his place among the substitutes.

Kepa’s participation in the latest session offers a positive indication of his condition ahead of the European fixture, although his availability will depend on the club’s assessment.

Several academy prospects also joined the senior squad for Tuesday’s training session. Ceadach O’Neill, Josh Ogunnaike, Remy Mitchell, Marli Salmon and Max Dowman were among the young players involved.

Their inclusion provided additional opportunities to train alongside the first team as Arsenal completed preparations for the difficult test against Bayern Munich.

Although Hincapie is unlikely to feature immediately, his return to individual training represents an encouraging development for Arsenal. A timely recovery could strengthen Arteta’s defensive options as the club balances its domestic commitments with its Champions League campaign.