Arsenal-bound Valencia defender Cristhian Mosquera "ticks all the boxes" for Mikel Arteta, and the 21-year-old has the potential to be a "big, big hit" in the Premier League, expert Charles Watts believes.
The Gunners are understood to be on the verge of signing the Spain Under-21 international, who recently confirmed his exit from Valencia andwas seen arriving at an airport ahead of his North London switch.
Mosquera rose to prominence during the 2024-25 season, starting all but one of Valencia's 38 La Liga matches before helping his nation reach the quarter-finals of the Under-21 European Championships, where they lost to champions England.
Mosquera's Valencia contract contained a €20m (£17.3m) release clause, but Arsenal will supposedly pay less than that even with add-ons included, and Watts had nothing but good things to say about this transfer when asked by Sports Mole.
“It's another really good bit of business," Watts said. "Arsenal didn't blink, Valencia tried to play hardball on it, but Arsenal knew they were in a really good position. They'd done their work behind the scenes - they knew the player only wanted them. Valencia could play the tough guy act publicly, but realistically, there was only one way this was going to end.
“I can't say I'm an expert in Christian Mosquera in terms of how he plays. But from what I understand, he's a good, talented player. It looks like a really smart piece of business for a young, up-and-coming centre-back. It fills the right centre-back cover that Arsenal have needed for a long, long time.
“He can play left centre-back as well, he's very two-footed, can play right-back, and Arsenal need that the amount of times they've had random players filling in over the last couple of years. I'm looking forward to seeing Mosquera play. He’s kind of an unknown signing.
"A bit of mystery" about Mosquera Arsenal transfer
Cristhian Mosquera in action for Valencia on May 10, 2025
“We know all about Madueke. We know pretty much all about Zubimendi, but Mosquera is an exciting one for me. He looks like a really raw but talented young defender who could well be a big, big hit in the Premier League. And it's always nice to have signings with a bit of mystery about them because not too many of us are experts on him.”
A versatile 6ft 3in defender, Mosquera is comfortable playing as a right-back as well as in a central role, and the youngster is renowned for his duelling excellence and ball-winning abilities.
Mosquera has successfully challenged 77.5% of dribblers in the past year - putting him in the top 7% of all centre-backs in the big five European leagues - as well as ranking in the top 8% for recoveries per 90 with an average of 5.15.
The 2004-born Spaniard is expected to primarily provide cover to William Saliba next season, allowing Arteta more opportunities to rest the overworked Frenchman, who has played 100 matches for the Gunners over the past two seasons.
Jurrien Timber and Ben White can deputise for Saliba, but one of the pair has almost always been required at right-back due to injuries, while Takehiro Tomiyasu's contract was recently terminated as he recuperates from a severe knee problem of his own.
Saliba's 2024-25 season ended slightly prematurely due to a hamstring concern, but Watts feels that Arsenal are learning from their injury-hit campaign and could even have to omit a couple of strong players from the matchday squad on the opening weekend.
'Mosquera is exactly what an Arteta signing is'
Valencia's Cristhian Mosquera pictured on January 7, 2025
“He's exactly what a Mikel Arteta signing is, isn't he? Versatile, strong, powerful, good on the ball, two footed, he just ticks all the boxes that Arsenal look for when it comes to a profile," he added.
“Two of the last three seasons, Saliba hasn't been able to finish the season because of injury. Whenever Arsenal look to rotate in defence when they're playing a League Cup game or something like that, you still always had either Gabriel or Saliba starting one of those in those games.
“So to actually have proper cover that allows both if needed to be given a rest is absolutely crucial. Last season was so littered with injuries, it stopped them being able to achieve what they wanted to achieve, or at least have a real good go. It was down to injuries, there's no doubt about that in my mind. And so much of this summer had to be what can we do to limit the chances of a repeat next season?
“The simple answer to that is get better players in, get a bigger squad that you can trust and that you can use, so you can rest the players. You’ve probably got a bench of eight or nine players at the opening weekend of the season; if everyone's fit, you're probably going to have to leave out a couple of really good players. And that's what you want.”
Mosquera should be one of three new faces to arrive through the doors at London Colney in the coming days, as deals for Noni Madueke and Viktor Gyokeres are also on the verge of completion.
Gyokeres has been told that he will bring a unique "desire" to the Emirates, and the Sweden international's imminent arrival will also have benefits for the much-maligned Madueke.
> Click here to listen to the full discussion on Mosquera's move to Arsenal
ID:577576:1false2false3false: from db desktop :LenBod:collect8041: