Hincapie Targets Van Dijk With Gold Badge After Anfield Victory

Piero Hincapie has issued a pointed reminder to Virgil van Dijk following a decisive victory at Anfield.

The Arsenal defender posted three images from Sunday’s match on Instagram, captioning the final frame with the phrase, “I don’t forget…” The last picture focused on the gold Premier League badge on his sleeve. Only the defending champions wear this specific emblem during a season.

The post serves as a direct response to a moment from January, when Liverpool were the reigning title holders. At that time, van Dijk posted a similar image of the badge after a goalless draw at the Emirates, a move widely interpreted as a subtle assertion of Liverpool’s status.

Hincapie’s post now flips that dynamic. Arsenal climbed to the top of the Premier League table after their win, while Liverpool remains in fifth place.

Kai Havertz scored the only goal of the match. Mikel Arteta’s side improved their record to eight wins in nine league games, moving three points clear of Manchester City. The team has conceded just five goals in those nine outings, with three of those coming in their sole defeat to Brighton.

Despite the low scoreline, the match featured high intensity. Liverpool failed to record a single shot on target. Mikel Arteta credited his entire squad for their defensive work, specifically noting the performance of goalkeeper David Raya, who did not make a save.

“I didn’t know about that statistic but that’s incredible,” Arteta said regarding Raya’s clean sheet. He added that the team had to block shots and prevent spaces, describing the consistent commitment of every player as “something remarkable.”