LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 06: Pedro Neto of Chelsea is tackled by Piero Hincapie of Arsenal during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Arsen...
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 06: Pedro Neto of Chelsea is tackled by Piero Hincapie of Arsenal during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Arsenal FC and Chelsea FC at Emirates Stadium on September 06, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Ecuador have confirmed their list of call-ups for the September-October international break, with Arsenal injury doubt Piero Hincapie left out.
Piero Hincapie of Arsenal FC is challenged by Pablo Garcia of Real Betis Balompie during the pre-season friendly match between Arsenal FC and Real Betis Balompie at Aviva Stadium on August 05, 2026 in Dublin, Ireland. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)
Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images
The Ecuador national team’s official social media pages have confirmed their list of call-ups for the upcoming international break, with Arsenal’s Piero Hincapie a notable absentee.
Ecuador are set to play friendly matches away to South Korea and Japan over the break, but the Arsenal defender will be spared the trip to Asia.
Ryan Taylor reports for Football.London that it’s understood Hincapie is not at 100%, with Ecuador boss Marcelo Gallardo suggesting ahead of the call-ups that there would be some injury absentees over the break. Chelsea’s Moises Caicedo is another.
CARDIFF, WALES: Moises Caicedo of Chelsea runs with the ball whilst under pressure from Dylan Lawlor of Cardiff City during the Carabao Cup Quarter Final match between Cardiff City and Chelsea at Cardiff City Stadium on December 16, 2025. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)
CARDIFF, WALES: Moises Caicedo of Chelsea runs with the ball whilst under pressure from Dylan Lawlor of Cardiff City during the Carabao Cup Quarter Final match between Cardiff City and Chelsea at Cardiff City Stadium on December 16, 2025. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)
Mikel Arteta had originally hinted at reasons to be positive with Arsenal’s defensive injury situation last week.
Ahead of the weekend defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion, Arteta suggested there was a chance any of Ben White, Jurrien Timber, Cristhian Mosquera, and Hincapie could be involved in the match, adding that he was feeling ‘very positive’.
In the end, Hincapie and Timber were the only two to make the squad, and only Timber featured on the pitch. But whilst Timber has been called up by the Netherlands, Ecuador clearly believe Hincapie would be better served by a break.
Piero Hincapie #3 of Ecuador reacts as he leaves the pitch after being shown a red card following a VAR review after he is adjudged to have covered his mouth whilst speaking to Santiago Gimenez #11 of Mexico (not pictured) during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 32 match between Mexico and Ecuador at Mexico City Stadium on June 30, 2026 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Piero Hincapie #3 of Ecuador reacts as he leaves the pitch after being shown a red card following a VAR review after he is adjudged to have covered his mouth whilst speaking to Santiago Gimenez #11 of Mexico (not pictured) during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 32 match between Mexico and Ecuador at Mexico City Stadium on June 30, 2026 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Arsenal will obviously be hoping that the international break allows the three players not called up to get back to full fitness, and that Timber benefits from his time on the pitch.
If all four could be available by the time Arsenal return to action on Saturday, October 10th, that would leave William Saliba as the only known injury absentee at this stage.
Of course, the international break is just as likely to create new problems as solve existing ones, so Arsenal will be keeping fingers crossed on the rest of the squad.
William Saliba #17 of France walks off the pitch with medical staff after sustaining an injury during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Semi Final match between France and Spain at Dallas Stadium on July 14, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
William Saliba #17 of France walks off the pitch with medical staff after sustaining an injury during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Semi Final match between France and Spain at Dallas Stadium on July 14, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Arsenal 24yo international left out over fitness concernEcuador have confirmed their list of call-ups for the September-October international break, with Arsenal injury doubt Piero Hincapie left out.
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