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Mikel Arteta heaped praise on the ‘dominant’ Piero Hincapie and strongly indicated that Arsenal will make his move everlasting in the summertime transfer window.
Hincapie arrived from Bayer Leverkusen on a loan in the summertime, and has proved a flexible option within the Gunners’ defence at either left-back or left centre-back.
A groin injury saw the 24-year-old get off to a slow start in north London, but Hincapie has missed only one Premier League match since making his first league start against Tottenham in late November.
Hincapie’s performances has seen each Riccardo Calafiori and Myles Lewis-Skelly starved of minutes, but Arteta is confident that the Ecuadorian is barely going to maintain recuperating.
Asked about his impressive form recently, the Arsenal boss said of Hincapie: ‘I fully agree. Again, a bit more time with the team.
‘A sequence of games where, probably, physically, he’s in a a lot better place. He’s been extremely dominant in all of the defensive actions.
‘He understands what we wish within the attacking part as well a lot better, all of the set-pieces, all of the elements which are relative to the sport model that we have now.
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‘He’s very much liked amongst the players, you’ll be able to see that the best way they interact and react with him. I’m very happy that he’s showing that up.’
The Gunners have the choice to make Hincapie’s deal everlasting in the summertime for a £45million fee, and Arteta suggested that the club are keen to achieve this.
‘I might say so,’ he replied when asked if Hincapie’s deal could be made everlasting.
‘Let’s undergo the season. We’ve already discussed the possible outcomes that we have now after that period. But thus far we’re very, very completely happy with him.’
For now, the main focus for Arsenal is on the league as they prepare to host Chelsea on the Emirates on Sunday.
The Gunners have already played Chelsea 3 times this season and are yet to lose, but Arteta insisted his side’s impressive recent record won’t make them complacent as they give the impression of being to maintain a distance between themselves and the chasing pack.
‘That doesn’t change the preparation,’ he said. ‘We all know the importance of the sport, and we all know the team we’re going to have in front of us.
‘We just have to organize in the most effective solution to have the appropriate to win it. As I at all times say, there’s nothing else you’ll be able to do. What we did two weeks or two years ago is irrelevant.
‘Every game and context is different, since the players is likely to be different and all the teams could be in a distinct state. However the state is different, and we’re prepared.’
On the injury front, there was excellent news for Arsenal, with Kai Havertz back in training and Max Dowman set to get minutes with the Under-21 side. A late call will likely be made on defender Ben White, who missed last weekend’s north London derby.
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