Mikel Arteta sprung something of surprise with his team selection for the north London derby with summer signing Piero Hincapie making his full Premier League debut.
The summer signing from Bayer Leverkusen has been forced to bide his time to make an impression his own fitness issues and the form of Arsenal’s left-sided defenders.
An injury suffered by Gabriel Magalhaes on international duty, which could keep the 27-year-old out of action for up to two months, has presented Hincapie with an opportunity he will be desperate to take.
Fellow new recruit Cristhian Mosquera had been tipped to fill in for Gabriel given he has excelled over the course of his first 12 appearances for his new club following his move from Valencia.
It was Ecuador international Hincapie who was given the not against Spurs, however, with Arteta keen to maintain a left and right-footed combination at the heart of his rearguard.
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Speaking to Sky Sports, the Arsenal manager said: ‘We believe what we want to do is the best partnership. We have the absence of Gabi for the next few weeks and we need the stability we have in the past.
‘He’s won the Premier League already in Germany and for his age already he has a lot of football in the legs.’
More to follow…