Arsenal fans and players were over the moon after beating Bayer Leverkusen and booking a place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
The Gunners were nowhere near their best in the first leg and were held to a 1-1 draw. In the return fixture, however, Mikel Arteta’s men were on another level and deservedly beat the Germans 2-0.
Hincapie played his part to help Arsenal win the tie, but knocking his parent club out of the competition was slightly depressing for him.
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Piero Hincapie expresses sadness over Arsenal facing Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League
Piero Hincapie joined Arsenal from Bayer Leverkusen on a season-long loan deal last summer.
The Ecuador international had a tough start due to injury, but he has been one of Arteta’s best players since the turn of this year.
Leverkusen’s director, Simon Rolfes, has suggested that Arsenal will sign Hincapie permanently this summer, which is great news for Gooners.
The defender is delighted with life at his new club, and he was thrilled to reach the quarter-final of the Champions League as well.
However, Hincapie admitted that he was a ‘bit sad’ that he had to play against his old club and knock them out of the competition.
He said, as per Football London: “I’m really excited to have qualified for the quarter-finals with my club. I’m also a bit sad because we played the phase with my former club.
“But this is football, and I’m really happy now.”
Signing Piero Hincapie permanently is a no-brainer
A few eyebrows were raised when Arsenal signed Hincapie on transfer deadline day last summer.
The Gunners already had Riccardo Calafiori and Myles Lewis-Skelly at left-back, while the Italian also offered cover for Gabriel Magalhaes on the left side of central defence.
Many felt that another defender wasn’t needed, but Andrea Berta personally pushed the Arsenal board to sign Hincapie late in the window.
You have £45m to spend on a defender, do you pay for Piero Hincapie or sign someone else?
That decision saved Arsenal’s season when they had all those injuries in defence, and Hincapie has now established himself as the first-choice left-back.
Signing him permanently in the summer for £45 million is not just a no-brainer but also a huge bargain as well.
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