Arteta stays vague on four missing defenders before Brighton trip

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Mikel Arteta says his squad are “all good” ahead of Saturday's trip to Brighton, but the Arsenal boss declined to give any detail on the four defenders who were absent from midweek duty.

Cristhian Mosquera, Ben White, Jurrien Timber and Piero Hincapie were all missing from the squad that beat Ipswich in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night, leaving Arteta with a thin set of options across the back line on the south coast.

“They are all good,” the manager said on Friday. “We have another training session this afternoon, so very positive about everybody.”

Pressed specifically on Timber, Mosquera and Hincapie, he offered little more: “We have another session, they are all willing to be part of it to try to make sure they are fit.”

How Arsenal got here

White limped off at the Stadium of Light last Saturday and has not been named by Thomas Tuchel in England's squad for the upcoming international break. His replacement that afternoon was Timber, who had not featured in the Premier League since 14 March because of a groin problem.

That substitution was forced rather than planned, and after a busy second half for the Dutchman the decision was taken not to add further minutes in midweek. Arteta had already noted after the Sunderland game that Timber's roughly 50 minutes were more than the club had intended.

With Mosquera nursing a hamstring issue, that left Martin Zubimendi deputising at right-back against Ipswich — a solution that worked on the night but is hardly a long-term plan for a fixture at the Amex.

The Hincapie question

Hincapie's absence was arguably the most curious of the four. The summer arrival had been lined up to cover for the rested Riccardo Calafiori, only for Myles Lewis-Skelly to be handed the job instead.

It was initially suggested the former Bayer Leverkusen defender had picked up a knock. According to Arseblog, rumours have since circulated that the issue may be more serious than first thought, and Arteta's answers on Friday did nothing to clarify the situation either way.

The timing does at least offer Arsenal a window. Saturday's game at Brighton is the last before a three-week international break, giving the medical department an extended runway to get Timber, White, Mosquera and Hincapie back to full fitness before the schedule picks up again.

For now, though, Arteta is likely to lean on the players who came through Tuesday unscathed. Zubimendi's showing in an unfamiliar role gives him one option at right-back, while Lewis-Skelly and Calafiori provide cover on the opposite flank.

Brighton have made life difficult for Arsenal at the Amex in recent seasons, and the Gunners will need their reshuffled defence to hold up before the break arrives. Team news will become clearer when Arteta names his side on Saturday afternoon.