In Arsenal’s cup win over Port Vale, Cristhian Mosquera showed why he might just be the smartest buy of the summer.
Arsenal move to next round
Arsenal’s 2-0 victory over Port Vale had plenty of positives. Eberechi Eze set the tone with a sharp finish and later picked up the Player of the Match award. When he was centrally deployed, he appeared much more settled to linking play, similar to at Palace. His vision and quick passing were a breath of fresh air for the Arsenal midfield. It was no surprise he was the one starting most of the attacking moves.
The fans had already seen the quality of what we saw against Manchester City. Although, he showed that he is at his best when drifting into central areas.
But, while Eze was important and grabbing the headlines, the real story of the night was from the backline of Arsenal. And that’s where one particular summer addition quietly stole the show.
Mosquera proves his bargain value against Port Vale
With Gabriel rested, Cristhian Mosquera stepped in at left centre-back, a role that should have been outside his comfort zone. Nonetheless, he handled it like it was second nature. He was battling hard in duels, calm on the ball, confident in the air. The former Valencia player hardly put a foot wrong. He showed why he looks ready to compete with William Saliba and Gabriel for a starting spot.
It’s easy for defenders to go unnoticed when others are grabbing the goals. But, Mosquera made sure his performance couldn’t be ignored. At under £20m, the North London side may have pulled off one of the smartest pieces of business in years.
Arsenal didn’t just sign depth, they signed a defender who looks like he belongs at the top level already.
Author’s Opinion:
Mosquera is a type of player who is hard to be left on the bench. If he keeps this form, Arteta might have to rethink his defensive pecking order.
As featured on GoonerNews.com
