Arsenal ‘beast’ Piero Hincapie has been tipped to become a regular 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 summer transfer window – with an option 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 started his career 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 ‘every single day’ while at Independiente del Valle.
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‘He was breaking the GPS data every single day,’ Ramirez told Sky Sports. ‘Speed, sprints, accelerations, high-intensity actions.
‘He was amazing physically, a beast, much better than any professional in the first-team. He was really impressive technically and tactically as well.
‘He will show that he can compete with anyone (at Arsenal). ‘He will take a place (in the starting line-up). You will see.’
Hincapie, who can play as a centre-back or left-back, has made five appearances for Arsenal to date having struggled with a groin problem.
He made his Premier League debut when he came off the bench in the win over Crystal Palace two weeks ago before being substituted on again in the victory against Burnley.
Hincapie started in the 2-0 Carabao Cup win over Brighton and was once again named in the Arsenal XI for the 3-0 Champions League victory against Slavia Prague on Tuesday.
Arsenal boss Arteta was full of praise for Hincapie following his performance against Slavia Prague.
‘(I am) very happy (with him),’ Arteta said. ‘He can play in those two positions, as a centre-back or full-back.
‘I think he was really good, really strong (and) really efficient. He’s got some minutes in the last week with two games and the last minutes against Burnley. So, we’re getting him up to speed.’
Hincapie faces a battle to cement his spot in the Arsenal XI on a regular basis.
At left-back, Arsenal have Riccardo Calafiori and Myles Lewis-Skelly and the Gunners have a number of impressive central defenders including William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes and Cristhian Mosquera.
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