David Raya says Arsenal have a ‘great player’ in their squad but Mikel Arteta has used him just once

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Mikel Arteta has built a terrific squad at Arsenal.

The Spaniard has been at the helm at the Emirates Stadium for nearly six years now, and he has signed and developed many remarkable footballers.

David Raya was signed from Brentford in the summer of 2023, initially on loan. That deal was made permanent in the following year.

Arteta made a similar signing in this summer’s transfer window – Piero Hincapie. Raya has had his say on the Ecuador international.

David Raya delivers verdict on new Arsenal signing Piero Hincapie

Arsenal signed Hincapie on loan from Bayer Leverkusen on transfer deadline day.

There was a lot of speculation that the deal includes an obligation to buy clause, but Arsenal just have an option to make the deal permanent for £45 million next year.

Since joining the North Londoners, Hincapie has made just one appearance. He came on as a substitute in the 91st minute of the Champions League clash against Athletic Club in September.

The defender then spent a few weeks on the sidelines due to an injury, but he returned to the squad against Atletico Madrid on Tuesday night.

He played no part in the game, but Arsenal star Raya seems to have seen enough of Hincapie to understand that he is a top defender.

The Spaniard told Dario Araujo in the mixed zone, as per Ecuavisa: “Piero Hincapie is a great player. 

“We know that he has had bad luck with the injury since he arrived, but he is undoubtedly a great player.”

Piero Hincapie is brilliant but he has one problem at Arsenal

Hincapie has all the characteristics to be a big hit in Arteta’s system at Arsenal, but the Ecuadorian is unlikely to get many minutes.

Riccardo Calafiori is the first-choice left-back now, while Myles Lewis-Skelly showed his class in that position against Atletico Madrid on Tuesday night.

At centre-back, Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba are going to start most games. Against Atleti, when the Brazilian had to come off, Arteta preferred Cristhian Mosquera instead of Hincapie.

We’re sure the Bayer Leverkusen loanee will get a few minutes in the coming months, but we just can’t see him starting enough games to make himself a regular.

Whether that will impact Arsenal’s decision to sign him permanently next year remains to be seen.