Arsenal's Mosquera Ready to Shine After Saliba Setback
Exciting news for Arsenal fans! Young Spaniard Cristhian Mosquera is poised to make his full debut for the Gunners this Saturday in their Premier League clash against Nottingham Forest at the Emirates Stadium. This opportunity arises after a concerning injury to key defender William Saliba.
Mosquera, who joined Arsenal from Valencia for a reported £13 million in July, has already given fans a glimpse of his potential with a couple of substitute appearances. He featured as a right-back in the dominant 5-0 victory over Leeds United. However, his true test came against Liverpool at Anfield when Saliba sustained an ankle injury during the pre-match warm-up.
The 21-year-old stepped up admirably, replacing Saliba in central defence just five minutes into the game. Mosquera showcased his composure and skill, boasting an impressive 92 percent pass completion rate. He also won 80 percent of his duels, making three crucial recoveries and two tackles. Despite one minor hiccup in the second half, the Valencia academy graduate delivered a solid performance under pressure.
Manager Mikel Arteta was quick to praise Mosquera's performance, describing him as 'really good' after the narrow 1-0 defeat to Liverpool. With Saliba expected to be sidelined for several weeks due to his ankle injury, Arteta is likely to favour a right-footed centre-back pairing alongside Gabriel Magalhaes.
While Riccardo Calafiori and new signing Piero Hincapie are options, Arteta may opt to trust Mosquera, who demonstrated his ability to handle a high-pressure situation at Anfield. Ben White and Jurrien Timber are also potential candidates. Furthermore, Eberechi Eze could potentially make his first Arsenal start, replacing Gabriel Martinelli on the left wing after a promising cameo appearance at Anfield.
What to Expect from Mosquera
- Solid defensive performance
- High pass completion rate
- Composure under pressure
This is a significant opportunity for Mosquera to prove his worth and solidify his place in the Arsenal squad. Keep an eye on him this Saturday!