Arsenal were handed another injury blow when Piero Hincapie wasn't named in the squad to face Ipswich Town in the EFL Cup on Tuesday night.
Arsenal have been criticsed for their substantial outlay on defenders in recent years -- with many deeming the addition of Ezri konsa unnecessary -- but depth across the back line is essential at the Emirates given the rate at which Mikel Arteta's defensive options pick up injuries.
William Saliba remains sidelined with a lower back injury and is not expected to return in the near future, Cristhian Mosquera has missed all of the Gunners' last four games after sustaining a hamstring injury against Aston Villa, and Ben White was subbed off at half time against Sunderland on Saturday night with a groin problem.
Hincapie is the latest defender to join the medical room, and we take a look at when the Ecuadorian defender could return to the first team fold.
When is Piero Hincapie expected to return from injury?
The severity of Hincapie's injury hasn't yet been confirmed, but reports suggest that he has sustained a muscular injury.
Hincapie participated in Arsenal training earlier in the week, but he was ruled out of the squad that travelled to Portman Road on Tuesday night, with sources suggesting that his absence was more of a precautionary measure.
He was likely to start at left-back against Ipswich -- having started just one game all season -- but his unavailability saw Myles Lewis-Skelly return to the position.
Riccardo Calafiori is expected to be deployed at left-back when Arsenal face Brighton at the Amex on Saturday, irrespective of Hincapie's injury status, but Arteta may once again opt to exclude the Ecuadorian entirely to prevent any further problems.
Providing that Hincapie's muscular injury is not severe, the 24-year-old should return to the first team fold when Arsenal host Leeds United after the international break on Saturday 10th October.
