Atrás
Mikel Arteta at the Sobha Realty Training Centre(Image: Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Piero Hincapie and Kepa Arrizabalaga returned to training ahead of Arsenal's clash against Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League.
The Gunners defender suffered an ankle injury during a warm-down session on the pitch at the Emirates Stadium following the win over Leeds United earlier this month. Hincapie was subsequently left out of the matchday squads for the Champions League tie against Lille and the Premier League match against Nottingham Forest.
On Tuesday afternoon, the Ecuador international was spotted back on the grass at the Sobha Realty Training Centre, training individually and away from the first team. The second-choice Arsenal goalkeeper also returned to action.
Kepa had suffered a knock in the build-up to the clash against Oliver Glasner's side, so he was replaced by Illan Meslier on the bench. Christos Tzolis and William Saliba were not spotted, however, as they each continue to rebuild their fitness.
Make sure you never miss the latest Arsenal news and opinion by making Football London one of your Google preferred sources.
The winger suffered a hamstring injury during Greece's match against the Netherlands over the international break, while the latter, who has been training individually for a week or so now, recovers from a back issue. The Gunners boss will be expected to provide an update on Tzolis and Saliba, as well as Hincapie and Kepa, when he faces the media in Germany on Tuesday night.
Speaking to reporters last week, when Arsenal defeated Lille to win a 14th successive 'league phase' game, a record which spans three seasons, Arteta touched on the recovery of Martin Zubimendi and Hincapie.
He said: "Zubi is much, much better. Piero is improving, but it looks more significant - I think it will be a matter of weeks, but we don’t know exactly how many. We have to see with Zubi how he deals with the pain on the pitch and the feelings he will face."
Highlighting areas for improvement ahead of the Bayern clash, Arteta said: "Our technical quality wasn’t good enough to deliver moments of real threat [against Lille], and especially to be able to sustain attacks so well in certain transitions.
"The moment we made a change in terms of positions at half-time, our technical level increased, and we attacked the spaces where we thought we could hurt them.
"It was a joy to watch, the three goals were unbelievable, the connections, the timings, the quality they delivered to score. Three different players, and more who participated in those goals, so overall, I’m very, very happy."
And on his side's record in the 'league phase', Arteta said: "It shows the level of consistency that we have. We carry on playing the way we do, performing that way in the competition.
"I’m sure we can do that more, but we have to earn it because it’s big."