Piero Hincapie: Page 6 - The Arsenal discussion forum and community: One More in the Tolly

Piero Hincapie

USArsenal

I think he is ultimately a cross between a Gabriel backup and a Calafiori backup. He can be used in either spot. I still think MLS will not end up at LB, he will eventually make his way into the midfield. I just don't see him as LB long term, much like Saka was not a LB long term (clearly. lol).

Sicario2

lorddulaarsenal

He’s awesome.

Klaus

His natural aggression is amazing. It's incredibly rare in a centreback and you can't really teach it, you gotta be wired right. Gabriel has it, Kos had it, Sol had it. Only way to deal with elite forwards.

Hincapie will be a top class prospect if they can find the right level for it over the next few years.

Mirth

Klaus I suspect that's why Arteta picked him over Mosquera. The latter has incredible talent but him and Saliba could act like they are too cool for school and you can't risk it in a NLD.

Qwiss

Mirth that may be true but I doubt its why Arteta picked him and reckon its more based on their strong foot.

He'd a great game though and was very measured.

Klaus Only way to deal with elite forwards.

He'll have to face one first.

Klaus

Mirth The thought struck me too. I don't think Arteta cares too much about right- and leftsided centrebacks, but he cares about getting the balance right. I really wasn't sure how good this cat is (I missed the CL game he started in) but he was the best defender on the pitch today.

lorddulaarsenal You need maniacs like this in big games, they push past the first wave of pressure and help you launch a counter immediately. Smaller teams don't dare to challenge but the Barcas and Bayerns of the world will, and they're going to get caught.

lorddulaarsenal

He’s excellent on the ball too. Has that passing style which sets off attacks. A lovely urgency about his play

RowJimmy

Klaus I don't think Arteta cares too much about right- and leftsided centrebacks

He cares a lot about it. You may not, but Arteta thinks it's really important to passing angles.

Burnwinter

Klaus I don't think Arteta cares too much about right- and leftsided centrebacks

He is notoriously obsessed with whether players are left-footed. One of the things he does with inductees to the squad is meticulously instruct them on body position versus field position … a number of players have referred to this.

It's not the only factor but since Saliba returned from OM, I'm not sure we've played a right-footer at LCB. White and Saliba might have played a handful of matches together …

Klaus

RowJimmy I'm not saying it doesn't matter, I'm just saying it matters a lot less to him than getting the dynamic right. If Hincapie had been rightfooted he probably still would have started today.

flobaba

RowJimmy that, and positions and spacing.

It's why I'm not yet convinced by the whole let Eze start on the left like Bobby Pires talk. Pires was never a 10. Eze is. He needs to be central, and to make the most impact, the ball needs to go to and through him close to the opponent's goal/box. Having Odegaard in and around the same space feels like an unnecessary congestion. It also helped that we didn't have a true 9 ahead of him in the spaces he was occupying.

Like I said though, good problem to have. Looking forward to seeing how it shapes up. I know we won't drop Rice or Zubimendi. And Trossard in this form is similarly undroppable.

Meatwad

Klaus
If Hincapie was right footed he wouldn't be an Arsenal player. and Arteta is obsessed with right/left foot. He signed and played Pablo Mari because he was left-footed.

Mirth

flobaba Pires was never a 10. Eze is.

I thought Pires played more centrally before he joined Arsenal but I could be wrong. I remember the consensus being how someone who walked like Donald Duck transformed into a beautiful swan on the ball and in front of goal. Pires was the classic midfielder who knew where the ‘moments’ were.

Equally, Eze played slightly more centrally for Palace but not as pure number 10, he covered the left space and Sarr covered the right space.

Meatwad

Burnwinter
yeah Saliba started on the left to begin the 2023-24 season in the most strange circumstances when Arteta seemed to have soured on Gabriel for some reason. He was poor though and that fortunately died after two games.

Gazza M

hincapie looks like one those guys that PSG or bayern quietly scoop up that quickly turns out to be world class

Qwiss

Gazza M crazy that United and Liverpool are going to battle it out for Guehi in January and we picked up Hincapie and Mosquera in the summer without anyone really noticing.

TambourineMan

Feel kinda bad for the guy. He's too good to be 2nd choice just about anywhere.

Gunner89

Qwiss

Think guehi is superb actually, palace just conceded 9 all season

The word on the street is he didn’t fancy competing against saliva and Gabriel tho

USArsenal

Well, Mosquera was the real steal of the summer, we got him for a bag of chips comparatively. Hincapie is technically a loan (which will become permanent) but his price was much higher. Honestly, the two of them make a very formidable pairing on their own.

Mirth

Isn't Mosquera two footed?

lorddulaarsenal

Mirth yep he has two feet.

Meatwad

Mirth
he is. before the last minute hincapie signing, arteta had his two footed backup to cover both sides so we were done until berta said nah I feel we still need another central defender.

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