Arsenal ‘beast’ Piero Hincapie has been tipped to turn out to be an everyday starter for Mikel Arteta after breaking GPS data at his former club.
Hincapie joined Arsenal on a season-long loan from Bayer Leverkusen in the summertime transfer window – with an choice to buy for £45m included.
The 23-year-old moved to Leverkusen in 2021 following spells with Talleres and Independiente del Valle in South America.
Independiente del Valle is the club where Hincapie began his profession and their ex-manager Miguel Angel Ramirez has explained how the Ecuador international’s physical output was off the charts during his time there.
Hincapie broke the technology used to record total distance covered, top speed and acceleration ‘each day’ while at Independiente del Valle.
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‘He was breaking the GPS data each day,’ Ramirez told Sky Sports. ‘Speed, sprints, accelerations, high-intensity actions.
‘He was amazing physically, a beast, significantly better than any skilled within the first-team. He was really impressive technically and tactically as well.
‘He’ll show that he can compete with anyone [at Arsenal]. ‘He’ll take a spot [in the starting line-up]. You will notice.’
Hincapie, who can play as a centre-back or left-back, has made five appearances for Arsenal thus far having struggled with a groin problem.
He made his Premier League debut when he got here off the bench within the win over Crystal Palace two weeks ago before being substituted on again within the victory against Burnley.
Hincapie began within the 2-0 Carabao Cup win over Brighton and was once more named within the Arsenal XI for the 3-0 Champions League victory against Slavia Prague on Tuesday.
Arsenal boss Arteta was filled with praise for Hincapie following his performance against Slavia Prague.
‘[I am] very glad [with him],’ Arteta said. ‘He can play in those two positions, as a centre-back or full-back.
‘I feel he was really good, really strong [and] really efficient. He’s got some minutes within the last week with two games and the last minutes against Burnley. So, we’re getting him up to the mark.’
Hincapie faces a battle to cement his spot within the Arsenal XI regularly.
At left-back, Arsenal have Riccardo Calafiori and Myles Lewis-Skelly and the Gunners have a lot of impressive central defenders including William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes and Cristhian Mosquera.
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