Cristhian Mosquera has reflected on his eventful summer and his first weeks as an Arsenal player while away on international duty with Spain Under-21s.
The 21-year-old centre-back swapped boyhood club Valencia for Mikel Arteta’s side in a £13m deal earlier this summer, ending a long association with Los Che to test himself in the Premier League.
Speaking to El Larguero while preparing for Spain’s European Under-21 Championship qualifiers against Cyprus and Kosovo, Mosquera admitted the last few months have been intense.
“It’s been a busy summer, full of changes, but I’m very happy to be here with the national team,” he said. “My arrival in England has gone very well, both for the club and the fans.”
The defender has already experienced Premier League football, stepping in for William Saliba just five minutes into Arsenal’s trip to Liverpool last weekend. Despite a strong showing, he was powerless to stop Dominik Szoboszlai’s free-kick that gave the champions a narrow win.
He acknowledged the pace of English football has taken some adjustment. “I’m feeling pretty good, but it’s true that the game is different from LaLiga. There’s more back and forth, it’s more direct… when you go into games you have to prepare yourself for what’s coming, but it’s crazy.”
Mosquera insisted he joined Arsenal knowing competition for places would be fierce.
“I knew I was joining one of the best teams in the world, with the best players. Arteta is very happy with me, he’s very close and is helping me a lot with the coaching staff. You arrive somewhere new and you have to adapt quickly to a new playing system.”
His departure from Valencia was met with mixed feelings among supporters, and Mosquera conceded he would have preferred a smoother exit.
“It’s clear that when you leave what has been your home, you would like everything to be a little different. I’m never going to speak badly of Valencia because I’m a Valencianista and it’s a club that has given me everything.”
He added: “I was happy there, but I was clear that if I left, it wouldn’t be for free. I wanted to make that gesture for the team.”
Now focused on Spain’s Under-21 campaign, Mosquera is eager to establish himself both internationally and at Arsenal. With Arteta’s backing and early minutes in the Premier League, he looks well-placed to do so.