Arsenal have conceded just three goals in all competitions this season, but Mikel Arteta believes their defence can get even better ahead of their Carabao Cup game against Brighton
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta
Mikel Arteta will rotate his side to face Brighton(Image: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
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Mikel Arteta believes that Arsenal’s competition for places in defence will help “raise the level” of his side. The Gunners play Brighton in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night and Arteta will hand opportunities to other players to keep things fresh, while there will also be other benefits from the rotation.
Arteta has kept things consistent in defence so far this season, with David Raya, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, Riccardo Calafiori and Jurrien Timber is clear first-choice back five. But the Carabao Cup and injuries following the bruising win over Crystal Palace will see him change things up in mid-week.
Piero Hincapie has made just two brief substitute appearances for Arsenal since joining from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer. He is set to make his full debut against Brighton and Arteta believes the Ecuador international has the qualities to make everyone around him better.
“He’s a warrior; he’s going to bring such intensity, physicality, and emotion to the team as well,” said Arteta. “He’s quality on the ball; he’s a player who is super keen.
“He can play inside, he can play in wide positions, he’s done it, as you said, in different ways, and now we need to get him up to speed because the moment that physically he’s at his best, he’s going to raise the level.”
Hincapie joined on a loan which will become permanent for £45million next summer and is capable of playing at left-back or centre-back. Fellow summer signing Cristhian Mosquera has already impressed when filling in at centre-back and they could be needed, with Saliba unavailable after coming off against Palace.
“He’s out. We are assessing him, but he won’t be involved in this match,” Arteta confirmed. The Gunners have been exceptional at the back this season and boast the best defensive record in Europe’s top five leagues, having conceded just three times in all competitions.
Piero Hincapie of Arsenal shakes hands with teammate Jurrien Timber
Piero Hincapie has increased the competition for places at Arsenal
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Arteta added: “I think we discussed the other day about the very close relationship between keeping clean sheets and not conceding goals and winning major trophies and that's a foundation that we are building over the last three years and we need to continue to do that. Tomorrow, again, in competitions that you are either in or out, you know how crucial that is.”
Kepa Arrizabalaga could be handed a chance to start, having been forced to watch his compatriot David Raya keep clean sheet after clean sheet from the bench since joining from Chelsea. “David [Raya] has been incredibly good for us in the last few years and Kepa knew that when he came in, but he's ready to compete,” Arteta said.
“If I have to highlight behaviours in that dressing room and culture, probably I would mention him as number one, because again, he's come into a different environment after winning everything in football, almost, being in the national team, Chelsea, Real Madrid, big, big clubs and he comes here and every single day he's behaving like tomorrow's training session is the most important one in his life. He will have his chances to play, he's in a really good place, and if he plays tomorrow, I'm sure he will be really, really good.”
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