With Piero Hincapie on the verge of joining, the club might have to change course if William Saliba’s injury proves serious.
Saliba’s injury and Arsenal’s dilemma
Arsenal’s 2025/26 season was already set up as a do-or-die campaign for head coach Mikel Arteta. Three straight second-place finishes and no trophy since 2020 have turned the pressure up at the Emirates. The Gunners have invested big this summer.
Piero Hincapie from Bayer Leverkusen is next in line, likely to give cover at both left-back and centre-back. But, the injury to William Saliba in the Liverpool game has changed the things. Saliba has been Arsenal’s defensive rock. The memory of their failed title push in 2023 without him still haunts the fans.
Hincapie’s move will strengthen the backline. But, he is being signed more to rotate at left-back than to replace Saliba in the middle. One injury has turned Arsenal’s transfer plan upside down. Arteta can’t take a risk with a season this important. This is where the Jakub Kiwior decision becomes huge.
Why Kiwior must stay
Kiwior has never been a big name, but he’s a reliable squad option. He knows Arteta’s system inside out. He has shown he can step in on UCL nights and hold his own. Reports suggest he was headed to Porto before deadline day, but Saliba’s absence changes everything. Instead of looking for last-minute signing, Arsenal would be smarter to keep Kiwior.
Kiwior may not be the main man, but he offers what the team needs. This is a season where Arsenal will fight on multiple fronts. Selling him now, only to search for another body, would be reckless. The north London side can’t afford that mistake again.
Author’s Opinion:
If Saliba’s injury is more than just a knock, Arsenal must hold onto Kiwior. Keeping him could be the difference between another near miss and finally breaking the trophy drought.
As featured on GoonerNews.com
