Didn’t take long – replacement for injured Saliba has arrived

William Saliba was injured as early as the third minute of the match against Liverpool and had to come off. It is likely a hamstring injury, which worried everyone in the ranks of the Premier League runners-up.

Luckily for Arteta, on the final day of the transfer window former Bayer Leverkusen defender Piero Hincapie arrived. The Ecuadorian said goodbye in Bremen, where Bayer squandered a 3–1 lead and the match ended 3–3—an inglorious farewell both for him and for Erik ten Hag, who was sacked after just two league games.

The Ecuadorian continues his career at the North London giants and will be tasked with immediately partnering Gabriel at center-back due to Saliba’s injury, as well as the fact that Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori are being used as full-backs, while Mosquera is still not ready for big occasions, as shown against Liverpool when he looked very shaky on the ball.

Piero Hincapie must step into some big shoes. The former Independiente del Valle player, captain of Ecuador’s U17 side, and a defender who shone at Talleres in Argentina, now has to bring everything Mikel Arteta demands from Leverkusen: excellent aerial ability (he scored plenty of headers there), composure on the ball, and the capacity to play on the left if needed.

Having featured at the 2022 World Cup and twice at the Copa América (2021 and 2024), he has already earned 46 caps for Ecuador and boasts plenty of international experience.

He arrives on a one-year loan deal that won’t significantly dent Arsenal’s budget, which has already been heavily stretched this summer. There is a mandatory buy option for next summer, when the North London club will have to pay Bayer Leverkusen 52 million euros. It’s a smart move by Arsenal, as Arteta had been asking for another center-back, and it’s no secret how “obsessed” the Spaniard is with defenders.

The Spanish coach didn’t hide his excitement when presenting the new signing: “Piero has a strong physical presence, and his versatility and tactical flexibility give us additional quality options in defense. He’s a big personality, with a great mix of youth and maturity. He will make our team stronger and more competitive as the season goes on. We welcome Piero and his family to Arsenal,” said Arteta.

The deal was completed by sporting director Andrea Berta: “We are delighted to announce the signing of Piero Hincapié on loan until the end of the season. At just 23 years old, Piero already has significant experience in both the Bundesliga and on the international stage. He is an intelligent defender with true strength and versatility. His performances in recent years, both for club and country, have consistently been at a high level, and we are confident he will continue to develop this season and be an important player for us,” said Berta.

Arsenal welcomed Hincapie, who will wear the number 5 shirt, which will be waiting for him in the dressing room when he returns from South America, where he has national team duties with Ecuador in the final two qualifiers for next year’s World Cup.