There are injury concerns for two Fantasy defenders in good hands after Arsenal beat Crystal Palace in the only remaining EFL Cup quarter-final on Tuesday.
The players in question are Piero Hincapie (£5.5 million) and Chris Richards (£4.6m), both of which have double-digit properties in the top 10k of the Fantasy Premier League (FPL).
We’ll have updates on both players in these midweek Scout Notes.
Other important talking points about Fantasy are also covered.
RESULT
| At home | Away | Result | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenal | Crystal Palace | 1-1 (8-7 pins) | Lacroix and | Gosh | Wood | Lerma |
SELECTION/ROTATION
| Team | Changes compared to GW17 from XI | Players who retained their places (minutes played) | Minutes for other players |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenal | 8 | Wood (90), Saliba (90), Calafiori (90) | Arrizabalaga (90), Lewis-Skelly (90), Norgaard (90), Merino (90), Jesus (86), Eze (67), Madueke (67), Martinelli (59), Trossard (31), Odegaard (23), Saka (23), Rice (4) |
| Crystal Palace | 3 | Lacroix (90), Guehi (90), Mitchell (90), Wharton (90), Mateta (90), Pino (86), Richards (75), Nketiah (45) | Godss (90), Serma (90), Canvot (45), Clyne (45), Devenny (45), Huges (15), uche (5), Sosas (1) |
HINCAPIA + RICHARDS UPDATES
Starting with Hincapie, he was completely missing from Arsenal’s squad on Tuesday.
The filmed part of Mikel Arteta’s post-match press conference did not include any updates on the centre-half.
However, in their transcription of said pressergood old Football London managed to sneak in one last (unfilmed) question about Hincapie and Gabriel Martinelli (£6.8 million), who walked away with a bang.
“No, Martinelli is more of a beater and he didn’t feel comfortable continuing after the second half. With Piero, yes, something different because he picked up an injury against Everton.” – Mikel Arteta
There had been suggestions prior to the match that Hincapie had a shoulder injury, but the social media post below from Sky Sports’ Sam Blitz found no evidence of a sling.
Piero Hincapie watches the warm-ups together with Cristhian Mosquera and Gabriel.
Amid rumors of a shoulder problem, Hincapie’s arm is not in a sling. #AFC pic.twitter.com/AnW0Y3g8Wb
— Sam Blitz (@SamBIitz) December 23, 2025
As for Richards, he was stretched in the second half at the Emirates.
It doesn’t sound nearly as serious as it initially looked – but there is still some doubt about Gameweek 18.
“Yes, he got a blow on his foot, like he was stomped on his foot, and had to get stitches. I don’t know how many stitches, just a few, but the doctor told me it didn’t look that bad. So I’m always hopeful and of course we have to be hopeful. I don’t know if he’ll be okay for the game against Tottenham, but I still hope he’ll be back against Fulham because of course, as said, we have sixteen outfield players and we can’t allow myself to miss anyone else.” – Oliver Glasner on Chris Richards
The concerns about injuries don’t stop there Eddie Nketiah (£5.4 million) were forced off at half-time.
“Eddie took a light blow. It doesn’t look that serious and I hope he… I’m sure he’ll be back for the Tottenham game.” – Oliver Glasner on Eddie Nketiah
EMBARGOED GAMEWEEK 18 PRESSERS – SO THERE WILL BE NO MORE INJURY UPDATES
That’s likely to be your fate when it comes to Richards and Hincapie’s updates ahead of the Boxing Day deadline, at least from the managers.
As feared, both Glasner and Arteta filmed their Gameweek 18 press conferences straight after the post-match EFL Cup presser had concluded. Both were embargoed, due to be released later in the week (annoyingly, the footage was cut before it was revealed when).
So any hope for more information probably comes from journalists who report on the clubs.
ARTETA TURNS…
A welcome boost for owners of Bukayo Saka (£10.3 million) and Declan Rice (£7.1m), Arsenal’s two midfielders were just substitutes on Tuesday.
They did get on the pitch, appearing in the 67th and 86th minutes respectively, but second-half cameos are much more preferable to energy-sapping starts – especially with the match jam looming:
Saka hasn’t started a midweek match since November, while Rice has either been completely off or only appeared as a late substitute in the past three midweeks.
Not too many recent minutes in the legs, which increases the hope that the two midfielders can start all four matches of week 18-21.
Arteta did not have the luxury of rest Riccardo Calafiori (£5.7 million), Jurriën Hout (£6.5 million) and William Saliba (£5.9 million), with Hincapie’s absence, Gabriel Magalhaes (£6.2 million), Cristhian Mosquera (£5.4 million) and Ben White (£5.3m), leaving the Gunners short at the back.
…BUT NOT GLASNER
Not such meticulous management from Oliver Glasner, who lacks the squad depth his counterpart enjoys.
Will Hughes (£4.7 million) and Nathaniel Clyne (£3.8m) were the only outfield starters from Gameweek 17 to be dropped to the bench.
Realized minutes for Clyne (he came on at half-time) and a horror show from the replacement right wing-back Jaydee Canvot (£4.5m) almost certainly ensures FPL’s cheapest starter gets the nod again in Gameweek 18.
Walter Benitez (£4.0m) impressed between the posts, but Glasner stated in no uncertain terms who remains his first choice.
“Dean [Henderson] is our number one, but Walter deserves to play in the cup matches.” – Oliver Glasner
(POSSIBILITY) EMPTY GAMEWEEK 31 IMPLICATIONS
The EFL Cup Final clashes with Gameweek 31, potential (but not definitively) creating a Blank Gameweek for four clubs.
We first discussed the implications of this in an article last week, which we have now updated following Arsenal’s progress.
MAINLY ONE-way traffic
The wider implications of Tuesday’s match mean we haven’t had much reporting on the action on the pitch.
If you didn’t see the match, it was mainly one-way traffic, especially in the first half. Arsenal had 25 shots in total to the Eagles’ eight, with the visitors’ only effort on target Marc Guehi‘s (£5.3m) injury-time equalizer. Another attacking return for the centre-back, to go with the six he has in the FPL.
The enthusiastic Benitez kept seven shots out: three out Call Maduyke (£6.8m), two of Gabriel Jesus (£6.4m) and close-range chokes from Timber and Rice. His double save from Jesus’ downward header and Madueke’s follow-up were the highlight.
No Arsenal player could beat him, with an unfortunate own goal away Maxence Lacroix (£5.2m) the deadlock breaker. Lacroix would miss the decisive penalty in the shootout.
A strikingly advanced Timber claimed the assist for Arsenal’s opener with his blocked shot, one of four attempts he had. Impressive numbers for a defender.
While the Eagles recovered after the break, this could easily have been a heavy defeat a la Gameweek 17 and 18. A once tight backline now looks very vulnerable.
Jean-Philippe Mateta (£7.7m) also strolled around like a man who is not quite fit, which is of course true.
In short, most of Arsenal’s key players are heading into the Christmas schedule nicely rested, with the backups offering Arteta food for thought in some positions (for example, the impressive Martinelli on the left).
A depleted Palace, meanwhile, continue to push the same group (not that Glasner has much choice) – and are set to play four league matches in eleven days. How much will Palace have left in the tank by the time we reach Newcastle and Aston Villa in Gameweeks 20 and 21?
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