Arsenal signing of the season is clear after another 'warrior' performance | OneFootball

As the likes of Viktor Gyokeres and Noni Madueke continue to disappoint, one signing has stepped up

When Mikel Arteta was considering whether to bring Piero Hincapie to Arsenal, he called his good friend Xabi Alonso.

Hincapie had been part of Alonso's title-winning side at Bayer Leverkusen and the Spaniard provided a rave review of the defender's character.

Arteta asked Alonso to sum Hincapie up in one word. "He’s a warrior," was the reply.

That was, once again, abundantly clear on Saturday evening. The full-time whistle went and Hincapie, collapsing to the ground, could finally stop.

Stop running, stop harrying, stop tackling. He had played a leading role in dragging his side over the line to 1-0 win over Newcastle, one of the few to stand out in what was otherwise a painfully passive performance from Arsenal, full of nerves and fear.

Eberechi Eze was named player of the match and deserved recognition for his brilliant strike that ultimately won the match for Arsenal.

Eberechi Eze celebrates Newcastle matchwinner with Piero Hincapie

Getty

It was Hincapie, though, who really led the way. Nobody on the pitch made more tackles than the 24-year-old. Among the Arsenal players, he also led the way for interceptions and clearances.

In the first half, Jacob Murphy and Lewis Miley were both shoved off the ball when trying to beat Hincapie on the outside.

The Ecuadorian stepped up in seven minutes of stoppage time, when nerves were at their highest in the stadium, and Arsenal needed all hands to the pump.

Hincapie slid in brilliantly to dispossess Anthony Elanga and then played Viktor Gyokeres away on the counter with a great pass down the line.

Gyokeres had Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli completely free to his right, waiting to be played in, but made a complete mess of trying to find them.

Hincapie is naturally more limited in attack than Riccardo Calafiori, for example, though he did create a chance for Eberechi Eze when sliding in at the back post and squaring the ball.

It was another superb performance from Hincapie, who has been one of Arsenal's most consistent players in the second half of the season.

That has been needed, too.

Calafiori has endured yet another injury-hit season, missing large chunks of the campaign.

Myles Lewis-Skelly has had a drop-off after a brilliant season last term and his minutes have been few and far between, meaning it has been essential for Arsenal that Hincapie has delivered.

Despite playing with so much aggression and seemingly always on the edge, he so often manages to toe that line without becoming reckless.

He will play through brick walls for you, and he’s one of the most competitive players that I have had

Mikel Arteta on Piero Hincapie

He has committed just one foul in the entirety of the Champions League campaign. Nine Arsenal players have picked up more yellow cards in the Premier League.

There is a relentless spirit to Hincapie's defending. Even when not at his best, Hincapie's head does not drop. He is all in, all the time.

Mikel Arteta alluded to that back in November, when Hincapie made his Premier League debut against Tottenham.

"That's his personality, he's a warrior, he's somebody that faces any challenge," Arteta said.

Speaking in March, the Arsenal boss said: "He will play through brick walls for you, and he’s one of the most competitive players that I have had."

That mentality has become increasingly important through the run-in.

Hincapie is one of those in the Arsenal squad with experience of winning big titles, having been a part of the Bayer Leverkusen side that went unbeaten to win the Bundesliga title in the 2023-24 season.

Arsenal have the option to make Hincapie's loan move a permanent one for £45million at the end of the season, and that feels like a no-brainer.

There are questions over many of those Arsenal signed in a busy transfer window last summer, but Hincapie has proved to be one of - if not the - best bit of business the club did.

Viktor Gyokeres was the big striker arrival but there are major doubts over how well-suited he is to this team and the Premier League in general.

A return of 18 goals so far is a decent one, but Arsenal's overall play suffers significantly when Gyokeres is leading the line.

Piero Hincapie and Cristhian Mosquera with William Saliba and Gabriel

Arsenal FC via Getty Images

Noni Madueke has proved incredibly frustrating. Almost every appearance of his has been a mixture of promising moments and no end product. The winger has managed just two goals and an assist in 23 league matches.

Martin Zubimendi began the season well but has started every league match and has understandably tired.

That fatigue has been to a large extent caused by Arteta not trusting Christian Norgaard, another of Arsenal's summer signings.

He was Brentford's captain last season and looked to be an astute arrival, yet it quickly became clear Arteta does not have any real faith in the Danish midfielder.

With Kepa Arrizabalaga poor when he has been required as a back-up goalkeeper, it leaves Eze, Cristhian Mosquera and Hincapie as the stand-out summer signings.

Bringing in Mosquera for just £13m was remarkable value and the 21-year-old has big potential.

Eze has naturally had more magic moments. Five goals against Tottenham, that stunning finish against Leverkusen, the whipped strike to beat Newcastle.

It did take a period, though, for him to adapt to Arteta's system. Eze did not have a shot on target in the Premier League in the three months between the two north London derbies.

In time - maybe not much time if he fires Arsenal to the title - he will likely be viewed as last summer's top signing. Eze is the type of player this Arsenal attack desperately needs and is now more consistently producing his best.

However, Hincapie has a strong case for being the pick of the bunch. In his first season in England, following a disrupted summer after groin surgery, he has excelled.