Arsenal aim to brick up defensive wall

Arsenal Borrow Bayer's Bricks: Hincapié Arrives on Loan

So here we go again: Arsenal have raided Bayer Leverkusen, but instead of splashing the cash like last summer with Granit's German pals, we've gone down the bargain-basement aisle — a season-long loan for Ecuador's Piero Hincapié. Yes, he's only 23, yes, he's already won the Bundesliga, and yes, he's got nearly 50 caps for his country. But forgive me if I don't roll out the red carpet just yet.

On the plus side, this isn't some random punt on a kid who's only played two decent games in Belgium. Hincapié's got pedigree. He's played over 100 times for Leverkusen, helped them to that freakish unbeaten title run, and even managed to keep himself on the pitch despite the Bundesliga being full of strikers who like to leave their studs in. That suggests he's got the temperament as well as the talent.

But let's not pretend this isn't Arsenal hedging their bets. A loan screams short-term fix. It says, "We know our defence looks about as sturdy as a chocolate teapot when Saliba sneezes, so here's some insurance until next summer." And insurance is all this is. If Hincapié was truly the long-term answer, we'd have slapped £40m on the table, not whispered "let's see how he gets on first."

Andrea Berta, our new transfer supremo, was wheeled out to purr about "versatility" and "intelligence." Mikel, meanwhile, went full teacher's pet, talking about "youth and maturity" — as if we've signed a modern-day Tony Adams who just happens to speak Spanish. The reality? He's another body at the back. A good one, sure, but not the messiah.

The number 5 shirt is an interesting twist. Historically, it's a big one — think Keown, think Vermaelen (ok, maybe don't), think a certain Gilberto Silva when he fancied sitting in front of the defence. Giving Hincapié that number is either a sign of faith or a sign we're running out of digits to hand out.

Internationally, the lad's done his rounds. Forty-six caps, a World Cup, and a couple of Copa Americas. Ecuador may not exactly be dripping in silverware, but they don't hand out appearances like raffle tickets. He's battle-tested, which is more than can be said for some of our recent imports.

So what's the verdict? On paper, Hincapié looks like a very smart addition: young, experienced, versatile. In reality, he's another loanee Arsenal will probably dither over next June. If he plays out of his skin, expect Leverkusen to hike the price and for Arsenal to spend another three weeks faxing the wrong paperwork. If he flops, he'll be quietly sent back with a polite "thanks for coming."

For now though, welcome to north London, Piero. You've got a season to prove you're more than just a stopgap. And if you can keep Rob Holding's ghost out of our nightmares, you'll have done your job.