It’s been quite the few weeks for Piero Hincapie, who is finally starting to make his mark at Arsenal.
The Ecuadorian had to wait to properly announce himself to Arsenal after signing for the Gunners on deadline day.
Injuries paused Hincapie’s start at Arsenal, but now, he’s really finding his feet.
Against Slavia Prague, Hincapie made his first Champions League start for the Gunners, and he was sure to impress.
Piero Hincapie won all of his duels against Slavia Prague
On what was a record-breaking night for Arsenal in the Champions League, it took a lot for one player to stand out, but Hincapie did just that.
The defender, currently on loan from Bayer Leverkusen, was heavily involved in the fixture, starting at left-back in place of Riccardo Calafiori.
Arsenal’s squad depth has been celebrated this season, and it’s clear to see why, as Hincapie entered the fold and did something no Gunner has done in the previous ten seasons.
Having been involved in eight duels and winning all of them, Hincapie became the first Arsenal player in ten seasons to contest eight or more duels in a European match and maintain a 100% success rate.
It was a terrific showing from the Ecuador international, who didn’t leave anything to chance against Slavia Prague.
What Mikel Arteta said about Hincapie’s Champions League performance
Whether it’s Calafiori, Myles Lewis-Skelly or Hincapie playing at left-back, Arsenal’s options are top, top quality.
After the win, Mikel Arteta was eager to praise his deadline day signing, sharing that he was ‘very happy’ with what he saw from the 23-year-old.
“Very happy. He can play in those two positions, as a centre-back or a full-back,” Arteta said.
| Piero Hincapie vs Slavia Prague |
| 100% tackles won |
| 100% aerial duels won |
| 100% ground duels won |
| 100% successful dribbles |
“The way we had to set up and the situation I had to imagine with the ball. I wanted to have him low in the side.
“I thought he was really good, strong and efficient. Now he’s got some minutes in the last few games, so we’re getting him up to speed.”
It’s no surprise that Arteta was impressed with Hincapie’s performance, as his match statistics tell the tale of his dominance at the back.
It was a night to remember in Prague for Arsenal, whose squad depth and defensive mastery are paving the way to a special season.
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