Arsenal Face Defensive Uncertainty as Piero Hincapié Doubtful for Crystal Palace Clash

Arsenal’s defensive plans for tonight’s Carabao Cup quarter-final tie against Crystal Palace are clouded by uncertainty over the fitness of Piero Hincapié. The Ecuador international sustained a shoulder complaint during Saturday’s 1-0 Premier League victory at Everton, and he was notably absent from training photos released on Monday, raising doubts about his inclusion for tonight’s match.

Hincapié appeared to suffer a blow to his shoulder following a collision with teammate Riccardo Calafiori in the early stages of the Everton game. Although he completed the full 90 minutes, he was pictured in visible discomfort and did not feature in Arsenal’s training imagery ahead of the Palace fixture. The specifics of the injury — whether it is muscular, a contusion, or something more structural — have not been fully disclosed by the club. However, the absence from training suggests that Arsenal’s medical staff are being cautious, particularly with a packed fixture schedule over the Christmas period.

Initial reports, including from Arsenal’s manager earlier in the season, described some of Hincapié’s injury setbacks (such as a groin problem) as “short-term issues” that should not keep him out for long periods. That earlier assessment was made after a minor injury and intended to reassure supporters that his absence would not extend beyond a few weeks. Given this context, it’s widely believed that if Hincapié is ruled out tonight, the problem is likely to be short-term rather than season-ending. But the latest shoulder concern has introduced a fresh doubt that will be monitored closely by the club’s medical team.

Should Hincapié miss out, Mikel Arteta has a few alternatives. Arsenal could deploy Riccardo Calafiori at centre-back again — a role he has occupied earlier this season — with Christian Nørgaard also another experienced defensive option. This depth will be crucial, particularly with other defenders such as Gabriel Magalhães also facing fitness uncertainty (although that concern was from earlier in the campaign).

Aside from Hincapié, Arsenal have a busy fixture schedule, and Arteta has already hinted at possible squad rotation. Youth prospects like 19-year-old Josh Nichols were reported to train with the first team, highlighting Arteta’s willingness to rotate and manage player loads in cup competitions. Offensively, the Gunners could see involvement from players returning to contention after injury spells, such as Gabriel Jesus, who had been managed carefully since recovering from an ACL tear, and Kai Havertz, who has been making progress in training.