Arsenal have received a timely injury boost ahead of Saturday’s Premier League encounter with Everton after Piero Hincapie returned to full training.
According to journalist Ryan Taylor, the Ecuador international participated in Friday’s training session, raising hopes that he could be available for the weekend’s fixture at the Emirates Stadium.
Hincapie has been sidelined with an ankle injury sustained during a post-match warm-down following Arsenal’s 2-1 victory over Leeds United earlier this month.
The 24-year-old subsequently missed the Champions League encounters with Lille and Bayern Munich, alongside last weekend’s Premier League victory over Nottingham Forest.
Initial assessments suggested that the defender could face several weeks out, with Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta acknowledging concerns about the injury’s severity.
However, Hincapie has progressed faster than initially anticipated and resumed individual work earlier this week.
His latest involvement represents another significant step towards competitive action, although Arsenal have yet to confirm whether he will feature against Everton.
Arteta had already raised the possibility of an imminent comeback before Wednesday’s Champions League draw against Bayern.
“If he is able to train the next few days, he can be available for Everton, which is great news,” the Arsenal manager said.
Hincapie’s return would be particularly welcome given the mounting injury concerns affecting the Premier League champions.
Bukayo Saka suffered a quadriceps injury during Wednesday’s 2-2 draw in Munich, leaving Arsenal facing the prospect of another spell without their influential winger.
William Saliba also remains unavailable because of a back problem, while Christos Tzolis continues recovering from a hamstring injury.
Hincapie’s availability would provide Arteta with another defensive option as Arsenal prepare for a demanding sequence of domestic and European fixtures.
The former Bayer Leverkusen defender can operate at left-back or centrally, offering valuable flexibility while Saliba remains sidelined.
His recovery could also ease the workload on Riccardo Calafiori, who has featured regularly during the Ecuadorian’s absence.
Arsenal enter Saturday’s encounter seeking a third consecutive Premier League victory after beating Leeds and Nottingham Forest.
The Gunners currently trail leaders Manchester City by three points and cannot afford to lose momentum in the title race.
Beyond Everton, Arsenal face Fleetwood Town in the Carabao Cup before travelling to Liverpool for another important league fixture.
Having Hincapie available would therefore strengthen Arteta’s rotation options during a challenging period.
For now, his return to full training is an encouraging development, with a final decision on his matchday involvement still to come.