Football essentials, 12 October: Tiago Santos badly injured, Arsenal lose Hincapié and Zubimendi for Lille, City clear at the top

The day cost players: Tiago Santos to Lille, Hincapié and Zubimendi to Arsenal, Openda to Lyon. It cost a dugout in Valenciennes, two days after a 13-0, and it spared Manchester City, winners at Anfield and already turned towards PSG.

Tiago Santos, the knee and the authorities

Total rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, plus a meniscal lesion: carried off on a stretcher in the 22nd minute against Le Havre on Saturday (1-0), Tiago Santos faces months away from the pitch, Foot Mercato reports, two years after a first cruciate rupture that had already cost him the best part of a year. Lille are not leaving it in the dressing room: the club have referred the absence of punishment for Amir Richardson, author of the tackle, to the French federation and the league, and are weighing legal action “to obtain redress” for their sporting and financial losses, RMC Sport reports. Richardson has sent the Portuguese his support.

Arsenal lose Hincapié and Zubimendi for Lille

Hurt at the ankle in the warm-down that followed Saturday’s win over Leeds, Piero Hincapié and Martín Zubimendi will miss the visit of the LOSC on Tuesday (9pm), Mikel Arteta confirmed, calling the timing “far from ideal”, the BBC reports. Monday’s scans will set the length of the absence; the defender’s injury “looks a little bit more serious”, and William Saliba has only resumed training on his own after his back problem, notes the Guardian. Our piece details what is left on Arteta’s bench.

Giroud back at the Emirates, eight years on

On the other half of the teamsheet, the homecoming: Olivier Giroud will walk the Emirates pitch again on Tuesday, this time in Lille colours, eight years after leaving Arsenal (2012-2018). “I was hoping to come back and play at the Emirates,” said the striker, who had “secretly” dreamed of the return for one of the last acts of his career, RMC Sport gathers.

Valenciennes sack Blois after their record

Two days after the biggest win in their history, a 13-0 over CS Habarcq in the fifth round of the Coupe de France, Valenciennes have relieved head coach Pierre Blois of his duties. The timing surprises, notes RMC Sport, for a club fifteenth in Ligue 3; our piece tells the day.

Bordeaux restart in R1 with Delport and Cormier

Les Girondins de Bordeaux confirmed their set-up for the season on Monday: Dominique Delport takes the presidency, Arnaud Cormier the head coach’s job, L’Équipe reports. The club, sold for a symbolic euro to the English fund Park Bench, are playing this season in Régional 1, Foot Mercato recalls.

Lyon lose Openda for at least a month

The verdict is in for Loïs Openda: a cracked fibula in his right leg, hurt in a clash at Lens on Friday (off in the 60th minute of a 2-1 defeat), and an absence “at least until the next international break”. He is already out of Thursday’s Europa League game against Crystal Palace, and Sunday’s visit of Nice remains in doubt; the club believe their striker was not protected by the referees that night, L’Équipe stresses.

City rule at Anfield and turn to PSG

For their first match since the guilty verdict, Manchester City left Anfield nothing: 3-0 against a Liverpool down to ten after Ryan Gravenberch’s second yellow (62nd), through Haaland (65th), Doku (68th) and Cherki (78th), at the end of a 41-pass move. Six wins in six league games, three points clear of Arsenal, Liverpool stuck mid-table: RMC Sport’s debrief is already looking at PSG, due at the Etihad on Wednesday.