Arsenal have the best defensive record across Europe’s top five leagues this season and Mikel Arteta claims that new signing Piero Hincapie can ‘raise the level’
Mikel Arteta believes that new signing Piero Hincapie will ‘raise the level’ of Arsenal’s already imperious defence. Hincapie, 23, joined the Gunners on transfer deadline day, completing a season-long loan move from Bayer Leverkusen.
Arsenal have already agreed a £45million deal with Leverkusen should they want to sign him permanently at the end of this season. So far, though, Hincapie has played just 19 minutes across two substitute appearances.
The Ecuadorian picked up an injury while adjusting to the intensity of training but he’s now ready to kickstart his Arsenal career. Hincapie could be handed his first start by Arteta when the Gunners host Brighton in the Carabao Cup fourth round on Wednesday.
Arsenal boast the best defensive record across Europe’s top five leagues this season, so Hincapie will need to make the most of any opportunity to stand a chance of dislodging members of Arteta’s preferred back line. The 23-year-old can play at left-back or in the centre of defence, and Arteta predicts that Hincapie’s introduction will force his team-mates to step up their game even higher.
“He’s a warrior; he’s going to bring such intensity, physicality, and emotion to the team as well,” the Arsenal boss said. “He’s quality on the ball; he’s a player who is super keen.
“He can play inside, he can play in wide positions, he’s done it, as you said, in different ways, and now we need to get him up to speed because the moment that physically he’s at his best, he’s going to raise the level.”
One reason that Hincapie could play against Brighton is an injury to William Saliba, who came off at half-time in Sunday’s 1-0 victory at home to Crystal Palace. “He’s out. We are assessing him, but he won’t be involved in this match,” Arteta confirmed.
The Gunners manager went on to say of his resolute defence: “I think we discussed the other day about the very close relationship between keeping clean sheets and not conceding goals and winning major trophies and that’s a foundation that we are building over the last three years and we need to continue to do that.
“Tomorrow, again, in competitions that you are either in or out, you know how crucial that is.”
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No.2 goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga was given the gloves in the previous round away to Port Vale, keeping a clean sheet in Arsenal’s 2-0 win. “David [Raya] has been incredibly good for us in the last few years and Kepa knew that when he came in, but he’s ready to compete,” Arteta added.
“If I have to highlight behaviours in that dressing room and culture, probably I would mention him as number one.
“He’s come into a different environment after winning everything in football, almost, being in the national team, Chelsea, Real Madrid, big, big clubs and he comes here and every single day he’s behaving like tomorrow’s training session is the most important one in his life.
“He will have his chances to play, he’s in a really good place, and if he plays tomorrow, I’m sure he will be really, really good.”
