LFC Live - Arsenal stats reveal why Mikel Arteta is replacing Jakub Kiwior with Piero Hincapie

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Credit: Imago/Breaking Media/Manh Tung

Chris Smith

Tue 26 August 2025 12:36, UK

Arsenal look set to complete a one-in, one-out deal, with Piero Hincapie coming in to replace Jakub Kiwior in their defence.

The Gunners are about to send an opening bid to Bayer Leverkusen – likely a loan with obligation to buy – after already agreeing personal terms with the Ecuador international, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Romano adds that Kiwior is on the verge of joining FC Porto – following on from Football Insider revealing the Portuguese giants were preparing an improved bid for the Polish defender, who is valued at £25million by Arsenal.

Both players are left-footed centre-backs who can dependably cover at left-back, so why the swap for Mikel Arteta?

In terms of defensive basics, Kiwior is perfectly capable, averaging 4.59 clearances and 2.34 headed clearances per 90 minutes in the Premier League last season, compared to 3.37 and 1.65, respectively, for Hincapie in the Bundesliga (FotMob).

But it’s proactive defending where Hincapie stands out, averaging 1.35 successful tackles, 0.34 blocks and 1.08 interceptions per 90, while making a joint-team-high 10 tackles in the attacking third, sitting level with Florian Wirtz.

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Kiwior lags behind in this regard, with his numbers sitting at 0.64, 0.16 and 0.48, respectively, while his two tackles in the final third were the joint-lowest of any outfield Arsenal player to log more than six minutes.

Piero Hincapie vs Jakub Kiwior (Credit: FotMob)

Of course, there are some important stylistic factors to consider, with Bayer Leverkusen among the most expansive teams in Europe when it comes to pressing, while the Premier League is a much more direct affair than the Bundesliga.

But then, Arsenal made a league-high 129 tackles in the final third last season (FBref), with Thomas Partey comfortable first among their squad on 24, while full-back Jurrien Timber was third with 11.

Hincapie is a clear stylistic upgrade in this regard.

Finally, Arsenal are famously one of the most possession-heavy teams in Europe right now, and Hincapie — a 2023/24 Bundesliga winner with Leverkusen — is a clear winner in this regard, giving Arteta even more quality in the build-up:

2024/25 league per 90 statsPiero HincapieJakub KiwiorPasses completed59.7353.98Final third passes completed10.829.19Long passes completed2.391.85Crosses completed0.30Touches84.7169.37Chances created0.540.4Carries into final third1.620.56Piero Hincapie vs Jakub Kiwior (2024/25 league play)

Football Insider verdict

Arsenal have performed major surgery on their squad this summer, signing the likes of Viktor Gyokeres, Eberechi Eze and Martin Zubimendi, among others.

But the acquisition of Hincapie could prove a key move, even if he won’t be the regular starter ahead of William Saliba and Gabriel through the middle, and Riccardo Calafiori and Myles Lewis-Skelly on the left.

Something that hurt Arsenal last season was a lack of quality depth that fit Arteta’s ethos, with players like Kiwior coming in and doing just fine, but leaving the Gunners needing to adjust to compensate for their shortcomings stylistically.

There will be no such problems for Hincapie, who is a perfect fit for Arteta.

The Gunners are desperate to win the Premier League title, but deep runs in the Champions League and domestic cups are also in the crosshairs.

To do that, you need a deep squad full of players who can interchange fluidly, and the signing of Hincapie — an archetypal modern defender — will be able to do just that.