Arsenal defenders Riccardo Calafiori and Piero Hincapie were absent at the open training session held today at the Sobha Realty Training Center as the North London side completed their preparations for tomorrow’s Champions League tie against Inter Milan.
The pair are recovering from muscular issues. Calafiori last featured in the Carabao Cup win over Crystal Palace in December, while Hincapie was subbed off in the goalless draw against Liverpool earlier this month.
Arsenal Coach Mikel Arteta has not provided a clear timeline for the return of either of the injured Arsenal players, but it has been reported that both players have not joined the squad that travelled to Italy today.
With both first choice left backs out Myles Lewis-Skelly played at left-back for the FA Cup win over Portsmouth and Jurrien Timber, whose main position is at right-back was shifted acdoss for the Carabao Cup victory at Chelsea and Saturday’s goalless draw at Nottingham Forest. Ben White has provided cover on the right in Timber’s absence, and Arsenal have an injury boost with Cristhian Mosquera now back with the team after a six-week ankle injury.
Arsenal travel to Milan top of the Champions League league phase winning all their games so after six matches. Victory over Inter, who currently sit at sixth, would secure a top-two finish and home advantage in the second legs of the last 16, quarter-finals and semi-finals, should the Gunners progress.
Last season the two sides met at the San Siro, where Inter won a 1–0. Arsenal would look to secure victory in Milan to extend their winning record.
