Hincapie carried off during warm-down to cast injury doubt over Arsenal defender

Piero Hincapie was carried off the Emirates pitch by teammate Illan Meslier during Arsenal’s warm-down on Saturday, after the defender was spotted clutching his right ankle following the Gunners’ 2-1 victory over Leeds United.

Hincapie had entered the match as a substitute but appeared to suffer the knock while completing additional work after the final whistle — meaning the injury occurred entirely outside of competitive action. The extent of the damage is not yet known, and the 23-year-old will now undergo assessment to determine whether he faces a significant spell on the sidelines.

The timing is a concern for Mikel Arteta, given that Hincapie only recently returned from muscular problems that ruled him out of Arsenal’s Carabao Cup tie against Ipswich Town last month. A recurrence or fresh ankle issue could limit Arteta’s defensive options at a critical stage of the season.

The injury overshadowed what had been a positive afternoon for Arsenal. James Justin had given Daniel Farke’s Leeds a surprise lead, leaving the home side searching for a response. Riccardo Calafiori levelled with a composed finish before Bruno Guimaraes settled the contest with an impressive strike in the 70th minute to seal all three points.

Arsenal will provide a further update on Hincapie’s condition once medical staff have completed their assessment.