Arsenal have completed their summer transfer business with a deadline day swoop for Piero Hincapie.
The Ecuador international has joined on a season-long loan from Bayer Leverkusen with the Gunners having an option to buy at the end of the season.
He becomes Arsenal’s eighth and final signing of the summer and the pressure is now on Mikel Arteta to break the club’s five-year trophy drought.
South American football expert Tim Vickery can’t see where Hincapie will fit in at the Gunners, however, Arteta and Andrea Berta have explained exactly what attracted them to the young defender.
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Mikel Arteta excited by ‘tactical flexibility’ Piero Hincapie will bring to Arsenal
Hincapie has the ability to play at centre back or left back and it is his versatility that has really caught the eye of Arteta.
Speaking to Arsenal’s official website upon completing the loan move for the 23-year-old, the Gunners boss believes the signing makes his squad that little bit stronger.
Arteta stated: “We are so pleased to welcome Piero Hincapie to the club. Piero has a real physical presence, with his versatility and tactical flexibility giving us strong added defensive options.
“He is a big character, with a very good combination of both youth and maturity. He will make our squad stronger and more competitive as we continue into this season.
“We welcome Piero and his family to Arsenal.”
The defender will already be a big hit with Arsenal supporters after revealing that the Emirates Stadium was his only choice despite interest from North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
He joins Eberechi Eze in rejecting Spurs in favour of the Gunners this summer and will wear the number five shirt this season.
Andrea Berta thinks Piero Hincapie is an ‘intelligent’ defender
Also speaking to the club’s official website, sporting director Berta is pleased with his final incoming of a busy first summer at the Gunners.
Berta explained: “We are delighted to have completed the loan signing for the season of Piero Hincapie. At only 23, Piero already has significant experience, both in the Bundesliga and at international level.
“He is an intelligent defender with real strength and versatility. His performances in recent years for both club and country have been of a consistent high quality, and we are confident Piero will continue to grow this season and be an important player for us.”
The addition gives Arteta the option to move Myles Lewis-Skelly into a midfield role if needed following Riccardo Calafiori’s excellent start to the season.
Arsenal have exceptional defensive depth to their squad and now need to back up their spending this summer with a trophy or two this campaign.
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