Arsenal’s Cristhian Mosquera had fans buzzing after his fearless display against Nottingham Forest.
Mosquera proved out to be a strong wall against Forest
Arsenal made a statement return from the international break on this weekend. The Gunners won 3-0 against Nottingham Forest to move back atop the PL table.
Martin Zubimendi scored a brace, Viktor Gyokeres scored again, and the noise from the Emirates was great. Yet, while the score line will please Mikel Arteta, the real talking point was the debut performance of Cristhian Mosquera.
The Spaniard was signed from Valencia for just £13m in the summer. He was thrown straight into the deep end following William Saliba’s injury. Instead of showing nerves, he bossed the game with calmness beyond his years.
For a player many thought would simply be a backup option, Mosquera played like he belonged at this level. He topped the passing charts with 76 successful distributions. Forest could only watch as they struggled to break through the Gunners’ defense. That is largely thanks to the young centre-half’s composure.
A glimpse of Arsenal’s new backbone
What this performance signals is bigger than just three points. For years, critics have said Arsenal crumble when tested at the back. But, Mosquera’s display hinted at depth and resilience that may change that narrative.
The player made Saliba’s absence barely noticeable, which is no small feat. The clean sheet adds confidence ahead of a tough game with Manchester City. The UCL is about to kick off as well.
Arteta will also be pleased with how quickly Mosquera has adapted to his system. He initiated attacks, showing why the head coach values defenders who can play out from the back.
Author’s Opinion:
Mosquera’s debut felt like the arrival of a new pillar for Arsenal. If he keeps this level, £13m will look like one of the smartest deals of the summer.
As featured on GoonerNews.com
