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Arsenal have confirmed that Piero Hincapie suffered a minor groin injury during Thursday’s goalless Premier League draw with Liverpool, with manager Mikel Arteta expecting the Ecuadorian defender to face only a short-term absence after initial fears of a hamstring problem proved unfounded.
Arsenal Confirm Hincapie Groin Injury After Liverpool Draw Scare
The 23-year-old defender was forced off in the 57th minute of Thursday’s match at the Emirates Stadium, initially appearing to clutch the back of his right leg before leaving the pitch accompanied by the club’s medical staff. Hincapie showed visible discomfort as he was replaced by Myles Lewis-Skelly, with early concerns focusing on a potential hamstring strain based on his reaction and body language.
However, subsequent medical checks have identified the issue as a minor groin injury rather than the initially feared hamstring problem. Arteta sought to play down the severity of the injury when speaking to the media, stating that Hincapie suffered a small groin problem that requires evaluation over the coming week but should be short in duration.
The latest injury represents a recurring theme for Hincapie during his first season in north London following his summer transfer from Bayer Leverkusen. The defender arrived at Arsenal still managing the after-effects of groin surgery carried out in Germany, with Arteta confirming at the time that Hincapie was not at full fitness upon his arrival at the club.
The same groin area troubled Hincapie again during his first appearance for Arsenal, a late cameo in a 2-0 Champions League victory over Athletic Club, effectively ruling him out for much of the early part of the campaign. By mid-October, the Ecuadorian had returned to full training and established himself as a regular starter, helped by injuries to other defenders in the Arsenal squad.
