Piero Hincapié Reveals His Favourite Position

Arsenal’s deadline-day signing Piero Hincapie has wasted no time in making his intentions clear to manager Mikel Arteta, stating that he sees himself primarily as a central defender despite his versatility across the back line.

The Ecuadorian international joined the Gunners on a season-long loan from Bayer Leverkusen, with a £45 million permanent deal lined up for 2026. His arrival capped off a busy summer window for Arsenal, which saw eight new signings—including Martin Zubimendi, Eberechi Eze, and Viktor Gyökeres—alongside several high-profile departures, including Jakub Kiwior to Porto and Oleksandr Zinchenko on loan to Nottingham Forest.

🗣️ Hincapie: “I’m Best at Centre-Back”

Speaking to Arsenal’s official website, Hincapie was candid about where he believes he can make the biggest impact.

“My best position is centre-back,” he said. “I’ve played many games at full-back as well, but I think I’m best at centre-back. As for my qualities, I’m pacey and I like carrying the ball forward as well as being a leader on the pitch.”

The 23-year-old has experience playing on the left of a back three, as well as at left-back and wing-back, but his preference for a central role could shape how Arteta deploys him throughout the season.

🔁 Replacing Kiwior, Reinforcing Depth

Hincapie’s arrival was prompted by the departure of Jakub Kiwior, another left-footed defender, and gives Arteta a flexible option capable of covering multiple positions. Sporting director Andrea Berta has earned praise for securing the deal, adding another layer of depth to a squad competing across the Premier League, Champions League, and domestic cups.

However, Hincapie faces stiff competition for minutes. Gabriel Magalhaes remains a fixture at left centre-back, with pundits like Rio Ferdinand calling him “untouchable” in Arsenal’s defensive setup. At left-back, Riccardo Calafiori and rising star Myles Lewis-Skelly are already vying for game time.

⚔️ A Battle for the XI

While Hincapie may not walk straight into the starting lineup, his versatility and leadership qualities could prove invaluable over the course of a long campaign. Arsenal’s fixture congestion will demand rotation, and Hincapie’s ability to slot into multiple roles may be his ticket to regular involvement.

Arteta now has a wealth of defensive options at his disposal, and Hincapie’s clarity about his preferred role may help the manager shape his back line with greater precision.

As Arsenal chase silverware on multiple fronts, Hincapie’s journey from Leverkusen to London could be one of the more intriguing storylines to follow this season.