Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino has shed light on the incident that left teammate Martin Zubimendi nursing an ankle injury during a post-match training session last weekend, describing it as a bizarre twist of fate rather than any lapse in judgment.

The session, which took place after Arsenal's win over Leeds, also resulted in a more serious ankle injury for defender Piero Hincapie, who was pictured being carried off the pitch on the back of goalkeeper Illan Meslier in a scene that raised eyebrows despite the presence of club medical staff. Neither player was fit enough to feature in Arsenal's 3-0 Champions League victory over Lille on Tuesday, with both undergoing further scans and assessments to determine the extent of the damage.

Merino, speaking to Spanish radio outlet Cadena Ser, confirmed that it was a challenge between himself and Zubimendi that caused the injury to his compatriot. The Spain international was keen to stress there was no malice or recklessness involved.

"He [Zubimendi] is fine, he had his ankle a little bit hurt due to an action with me and if there is anyone that doesn't want to hurt him, it's me," Merino explained. "It was a freak accident in training but he's fine, he is a bull and recovers quickly."

The nature of the session itself became a talking point, with manager Mikel Arteta forced to defend the club's approach after questions were raised about its intensity. The Spaniard clarified that what took place was not a standard warm-down but rather a tailored training exercise for players who had not featured significantly in the win over Leeds. Such sessions typically involve small-sided games, with reduced-size goals brought onto the Emirates pitch for those short on minutes.

Hincapie had come on for the final ten minutes of that match as a substitute for left-back Riccardo Calafiori, while Zubimendi had not been used at all, making both players prime candidates for the additional work that ultimately led to their respective injuries.

Arteta was quick to point out that nothing comparable had occurred during his seven years at the helm of the club, and argued that similar freak injuries could just as easily happen during a regular training day. He has continued to back the format of these post-match sessions despite the unfortunate outcome.

There was encouraging news regarding Zubimendi's recovery, however, with Arteta describing the Spanish midfielder as "much, much better" following the win over Lille. That positive update suggests Zubimendi could be back in contention for Arsenal's trip to Nottingham Forest this weekend in the Premier League, a fixture that precedes a significant Champions League test away at Bayern Munich.

Hincapie's situation appears less optimistic in the short term. The Ecuadorian defender is expected to miss both the Forest fixture and the subsequent clash with Bayern Munich as he continues his recovery from what has been described as the more severe of the two ankle injuries.

Arteta is due to provide further clarity on the fitness of both players during his pre-match press conference ahead of the Forest game on Friday, with Arsenal fans anxiously awaiting news on when their squad can be restored to full strength amid a demanding run of fixtures across both domestic and European competitions.

Based on reporting from Standard Football.