Arsenal strengthen their defense: Hincapie to replace Gabriel long-term.

Piero Hincapie stepped into Arsenal's left-sided centre-back role amidst the risk of Gabriel Magalhaes' long-term absence. With a packed schedule of 14 matches in just eight weeks, the least disruptive option for Mikel Arteta's system was to have Hincapie play alongside William Saliba, while keeping Riccardo Calafiori at left-back where he was performing consistently.

Mikel Arteta's backup plan

The decision to bring Hincapie to Emirates was not easy. Within Arsenal's leadership, there were conflicting opinions: one side worried about wasting budget, while the other – with the support of Mikel Arteta – saw it as a necessary addition. The context at the time was clear: Jakub Kiwior was eager to join Porto, and the devastating impact of injuries on the 2024-25 season meant Arteta didn't want to take any risks.

Arsenal finally reached an agreement with Bayer Leverkusen: a loan deal for Hincapie, with an option to buy him permanently next summer for €52 million and a 10% share of any resale profits. This expensive "insurance package" is now paying off. With Gabriel expected to be out for an extended period, Hincapie has become the perfect fit to fill the void in midfield.

The defensive personnel problem

Arsenal are awaiting the final conclusion on Gabriel's injury, with initial predictions being quite pessimistic: he may be racing against time to be fit to return in 2025. This is a major blow as the Gunners head into a run of 14 matches in eight weeks, and Gabriel is a reliable defensive anchor and a significant aerial threat from set pieces.

The difference compared to previous seasons is the current squad depth. Hincapie isn't the only option, but he's the most viable one thanks to his left foot, meeting the balance criteria that Arteta values ​​for a left-sided centre-back.

In addition, Cristhian Mosquera – a new signing from Valencia – has impressed whenever he's played. However, a major obstacle is that Mosquera is right-footed. Meanwhile, Riccardo Calafiori, originally a center-back and previously tested during the pre-season, is currently playing exceptionally well at left-back, starting all 11 Premier League matches. Moving Calafiori into the center would mean disrupting two positions instead of one.

Regarding Calafiori's condition, coach Gattuso confirmed that he left the Italian national team training camp early to manage his workload, and that it was not a serious injury, so his chances of playing remain high.

An opportunity arose for Piero Hincapie.

Arsenal helped Hincapie get back into rhythm ahead of the international break, with starts against Brighton and Slavia Prague interspersed with appearances from the bench. His two recent games for Ecuador further strengthened his fitness.

Hincapie brings a different style compared to Gabriel: high intensity, aggressiveness, and leadership qualities – proven by his captaincy of the Ecuador national team. His arrival also opens up opportunities to rearrange the roles in the defense, making room for young talents like Myles Lewis-Skelly or adjusting Ben White's position when needed.

Notably, manager Thomas Tuchel suggested that Lewis-Skelly needed more playing time to compete for a World Cup spot – and Gabriel's absence inadvertently created more room for such experiments.

The attacking line faces a challenge.

Losing Gabriel is a major problem in defense, but the personnel situation in the attacking line is also giving Arteta a headache. Before the international break, Arsenal were without a host of attacking stars: Viktor Gyokeres, Kai Havertz, Noni Madueke, Gabriel Martinelli, Martin Odegaard, and Gabriel Jesus. The Emirates Stadium side hoped these players would gradually return in the coming weeks, but their availability for the match against Tottenham remained uncertain.

Arteta's solutions (scratch optimization)

• Piero Hincapie plays as a left-sided center-back: meeting the criteria of being a left-footed player and maintaining a familiar build.
• Cristhian Mosquera: a quality option, but right-footed, weight loss through positioning.
• Riccardo Calafiori moved into the center: disrupting two positions, while he was already stable at left-back.

Dealing with injury crises is nothing new for Mikel Arteta. But with Piero Hincapie as his "insurance package" and proactive moves during the transfer window, Arsenal have a reliable solution for their defense to prepare for the intense period ahead.