Arsenal have taken advantage of a UEFA rule for their crucial Champions League match against Bayer Leverkusen.
Arsenal, who are leading the Premier League, won each of their eight Champions League group stage matches, finishing top of the table and securing passage to the next round.
They will face Bundesliga side Leverkusen in the round of 16 for a place in the quarter-finals as they aim to win their first major European trophy.
Before the match against Leverkusen, Mikel Arteta has received good news, as he will be able to count on the services of Piero Hincapie, despite the fact that he is on loan from the German team.
Hincapie joined Arsenal from Leverkusen last summer on a season-long loan, with an option to make the transfer permanent at the end of the season for €45 million.
This is because, according to UEFA rules, clubs that own the player’s card cannot impose clauses that prohibit a loaned player from playing against them in European competitions.
Hincapie has been a key player under Arteta, making 27 appearances in all competitions, including four appearances in the Champions League.
The Ecuadorian’s versatility to play in several positions has proven crucial since joining the club and he is expected to be available against Leverkusen after coming off the bench against Mansfield.
A player facing his parent club in the Champions League is nothing new.
Philippe Coutinho played against Barcelona while on loan at Bayern Munich in a high-profile instance of this situation.
He joined the German giants on loan from Barcelona for the 2019/20 season and faced his parent club in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
Coutinho shone against Barcelona, scoring two goals and providing an assist in Bayern’s 8-2 win in the Champions League in 2020.