Arteta defends training intensity after Hincapie and Zubimendi injuries
Mikel Arteta has defended Arsenal's training methods after ankle injuries to Piero Hincapie and Martin Zubimendi, insisting the club's demanding standards will not change despite the setbacks.
Speaking ahead of Arsenal's clash with Lille, Arteta was asked whether the intensity of training sessions had contributed to the injuries picked up by the pair. The Arsenal boss acknowledged the situation is far from perfect, but stood firmly behind the culture he has built at the club.
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Arteta stands by his approach
Speaking via Hayters, Arteta explained that he expects nothing less than full commitment from his squad during training, even if that raises the risk of knocks along the way.
“If you have some really bad faces and terrible attitude, you will be questioned. It's not to the standard,” Arteta said.
“I prefer it happens in this manner. Again, it's not ideal, but that's the culture that we have.
“When we are out there, we train and we train to the highest standards, demands, and we compete to win.
“That's the consequence of the team that we are.”
Context behind the comments
Arteta's remarks come with Arsenal competing on multiple fronts, including the Premier League and Champions League, where the physical demands on players are relentless. The manager has long placed an emphasis on competitive training sessions, arguing that intensity in preparation translates directly into performance levels on matchdays.
The injuries to Hincapie and Zubimendi have understandably prompted scrutiny of that approach, given both picked up ankle issues away from matchday action. Arteta did not go into further detail on the specific nature or severity of either injury, but his comments confirm that both were sustained during training rather than in a match.
Arsenal will be hoping neither absence proves lengthy as the fixtures continue to stack up. For now, Arteta's message is clear: the culture of intensity at London Colney is not up for negotiation, even when it comes at a cost.
Attention now turns to how soon Hincapie and Zubimendi can return to full training, with Arsenal set to provide further updates on their fitness in the build up to the Lille fixture and beyond.
