Arsenal dealt fresh injury blow as star forced off in Liverpool draw

Arsenal were dealt another injury blow during their crucial Premier League clash against Liverpool on Thursday night as defender Piero Hincapie hobbled off in the second half

Arsenal have suffered another injury setback as defender Piero Hincapie was forced to leave the pitch during the second half of Thursday night’s 0-0 draw with Liverpool.

Hincapie limped off and was substituted by Myles Lewis-Skelly in the 57th minute. The Gunners were aiming to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League table to eight points with a victory over Arne Slot’s team, following draws for Manchester City and Aston Villa, who are currently second and third respectively, on Wednesday night. But they were held to a goalless draw in the end.

Mikel Arteta’s squad has been hit with another injury concern too. Hincapie, who joined Arsenal on loan from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer, had to be substituted during the Liverpool match.

Defenders Cristhian Mosquera and Riccardo Calafiori were already ruled out before the game by Arteta. “No. They’re out again,” he confirmed.

“I think pretty soon [they will return]. They have to go through the last stage of the rehab, and if everything goes well, hopefully soon they will be available for selection.”

At the end of the match, Gary Neville slammed Gabriel Martinelli as an ‘idiot’ for starting a huge brawl and said a Liverpool player should have ‘whacked him’ after attempting to push a seriously injured Conor Bradley off the pitch.

The Northern Ireland full-back was left on the turf in agony after appearing to pick up a serious leg injury by the touchline. But wanting to get the game underway as quickly as possible, Martinelli shoved the Reds right-back off the pitch, leaving him in further distress.

Liverpool players soon came rushing over to back up their team-mate, seeing Ibrahima Konate booked for shoving the Brazilian as the ugly moment sparked a feisty clash.

Neville was left furious on commentary as he slammed the lack of compassion from the Arsenal forward, slamming him an “idiot.”

Replay also showed that Martinelli had first thrown the ball at Bradley while he clutched his knee in pain, seeing a seething Neville say: “I am surprised one of the Liverpool players hasn’t gone over and had a right pop at him. I think an apology is needed.

“I’m fuming with Martinelli, I don’t know how a Liverpool player didn’t go and whack him and take the red card. Absolutely disgraceful.”

Liverpool denied the chance for Arsenal to move eight points clear of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League after their title rivals dropped points with their third consecutive draw on Wednesday.