{"id":1685,"date":"2026-02-27T18:54:44","date_gmt":"2026-02-27T18:54:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news678.top\/?p=1685"},"modified":"2026-02-27T18:54:44","modified_gmt":"2026-02-27T18:54:44","slug":"mikel-arteta-hints-at-arsenal-transfer-plans-for-dominant-45m-star-very-happy-football","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news678.top\/?p=1685","title":{"rendered":"Mikel Arteta hints at Arsenal transfer plans for ‘dominant’ \u00a345m star: ‘Very happy’ | Football"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Mikel Arteta heaped praise on the \u2018dominant\u2019 Piero Hincapie and strongly indicated that Arsenal will make his move permanent in the summer transfer window.<\/p>\n

Hincapie arrived from Bayer Leverkusen on a loan in the summer, and has proved a versatile option in the Gunners\u2019 defence at either left-back or left centre-back.<\/p>\n

A groin injury saw the 24-year-old get off to a slow start in north London, but Hincapie has missed just one Premier League match since making his first league start against Tottenham in late November.<\/p>\n

Hincapie\u2019s performances has seen both Riccardo Calafiori and Myles Lewis-Skelly starved of minutes, but Arteta is confident that the Ecuadorian is only going to keep getting better.<\/p>\n

Asked about his impressive form recently, the Arsenal boss said of Hincapie: \u2018I fully agree. Again, a bit more time with the team. <\/p>\n

\u2018A sequence of games where, probably, physically, he\u2019s in a much better place. He\u2019s been extremely dominant in all the defensive actions. <\/p>\n

\u2018He understands what we want in the attacking part as well much better, all the set-pieces, all the aspects that are relative to the game model that we have. <\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"Tottenham\t<\/div>
Piero Hincapie has excelled in recent weeks (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2018He\u2019s very much liked amongst the players, you can see that the way they interact and react with him. I\u2019m very pleased that he\u2019s showing that up.\u2019<\/p>\n

The Gunners have the option to make Hincapie\u2019s deal permanent in the summer for a \u00a345million fee, and Arteta suggested that the club are keen to do so.<\/p>\n

\u2018I would say so,\u2019 he replied when asked if Hincapie\u2019s deal would be made permanent. <\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"Arsenal\t<\/div>
Hincapie joined on loan from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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\u2018Let\u2019s go through the season. We have already discussed the possible outcomes that we have after that period. But so far we are very, very happy with him.\u2019<\/p>\n

For now, the focus for Arsenal is on the league as they prepare to host Chelsea at the Emirates on Sunday.<\/p>\n

The Gunners have already played Chelsea three times this season and are yet to lose, but Arteta insisted his side\u2019s impressive recent record won\u2019t make them complacent as they look to keep a distance between themselves and the chasing pack.<\/p>\n

\u2018That doesn\u2019t change the preparation,\u2019 he said. \u2018We know the importance of the game, and we know the team we\u2019re going to have in front of us. <\/p>\n

\u2018We just have to prepare in the best way to have the right to win it. As I always say, there\u2019s nothing else you can do. What we did two weeks or two years ago is irrelevant. <\/p>\n

\u2018Every game and context is different, because the players might be different and all of the teams can be in a different state. But the state is different, and we\u2019re prepared.\u2019<\/p>\n

On the injury front, there was good news for Arsenal, with Kai Havertz back in training and Max Dowman set to get minutes with the Under-21 side. A late call will be made on defender Ben White, who missed last weekend\u2019s north London derby.<\/p>\n

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