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Arsenal star spotted in training ahead of Bournemouth clash after Mikel Arteta update

Good news for Arsenal supporters ahead of key Premier League fixture against Bournemouth

By Evening Standard

• April 11, 2026 at 9:23 AM

Arsenal star spotted in training ahead of Bournemouth clash after Mikel Arteta update Photo: Evening Standard

Piero Hincapie took part in Arsenal training ahead of the Premier League clash against Bournemouth.

Hincapie has not featured for Arsenal since the Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester City last month after withdrawing from international duty early with Ecuador , subsequently missing the FA Cup tie at Southampton and the Champions League quarter-final first leg win over Sporting CP.

The defender, along with Bukayo Saka, Jurrien Timber, Martin Odegaard and Riccardo Calafiori, had emerged as a doubt for the lunchtime kick-off at the Emirates Stadium after missing Thursday’s session at London Colney .

Furthermore, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was rather coy about Hincapie’s fitness during Friday’s pre-match press conference.

“There will be changes tomorrow,” the Spaniard told reporters.

“Good try.”
In a surprise boost, Hincapie was spotted in Friday’s session which suggests he will be in contention to make a return to the matchday squad against the Cherries.

However, there was no sign of the aforementioned quartet despite Arteta refusing to rule them out of action.

“I don't know, some of them,” the Arsenal manager said when asked if Saka, Timber, Odegaard and Calafiori would be available for the visit of Bournemouth.

The Arsenal team to face Bournemouth will be announced at 11.15am BST, ahead of kick-off at 12.30pm.

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Victory for the Gunners will see them stretch their lead at the top of the Premier League table to 12 points, albeit potentially for 24 hours with Manchester City in action against Chelsea on Sunday afternoon.

Arsenal beat Bournemouth in the reverse fixture at the start of the year, but did lose the corresponding fixture last season despite taking the lead through Declan Rice’s goal in the first half.