Ask Me Anything

Alex Howell
Arsenal reporter

Piero Hincapie has been the subject of several questions sent in via our Ask about Arsenal form recently, including one contributor who asked why more people are not talking about the defender as a result of his impressive first season in English football.

I think in the fanbase, there are supporters who are still working out what type of player he is.

He is clearly favoured by Mikel Arteta, who has said how much he values Hincapie's passion and intensity, but there are still question marks about which position is his best.

He has played at both left-back and centre-back and is not first choice in either of those positions.

There is also the fact that he seems to have jumped ahead of Myles Lewis-Skelly in the pecking order too.

Hincapie has experience of having won a league with Bayer Leverkusen, which could be a big thing as Arsenal try to do the same this campaign, but there is a long way to go.

He has shown that he can switch off at times but that does not mean he could not become an elite Premier League player - just look at Gabriel Magalhaes.

Hincapie needs a run in the team and to look really solid before there is more talk about him, but the assist he got against Brentford with a great cross is a start.

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Phil McNulty
Chief football writer

Toffees defender Nathan Patterson's lack of game-time has been the subject of several questions sent in via our 'Ask about Everton form'. Chief football writer Phil McNulty answers why Everton may choose to sign a new right-back in the summer.

Nathan Patterson has shown moments of real promise since he arrived from Rangers in an £11.5m deal in January 2022, but his Everton career his simply not got going over a long period.

He is still only 24, but he has played under three different managers in Frank Lampard, Sean Dyche and David Moyes during a period of churn and instability at Everton, which never helps a young player.

Patterson has also suffered from injuries, which have kept him out for long periods that have also held him back and restricted his opportunities.

He simply has not produced consistency of form and fitness, so Moyes' decisions have been understandable with Patterson now reaching a crucial stage in his career.

Everton have been searching for a right-back since last summer. They thought they had Kenny Tete from Fulham, but he then decided to stay at Craven Cottage.

Their need is illustrated by the fact that, as well as Patterson, Jake O'Brien and James Garner – a natural centre-back and a midfielder – have been utilised there, while Seamus Coleman is now 37 and increasingly suffering from injury problems.

Whether Moyes feels he can rely on Patterson remains to be seen, but there must be question marks over that, so I fully expect Everton to go strong on signing a right-back in the summer.

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