The championship bid of the Premier League at Arsenal suffered a twofold agony at Villa Park. A sickening 2-1 loss to Aston Villa was immediately followed by the bad news of a grave injury. The stunning 95th minute goal of Emiliano Buendia cut off the 18 match unbeaten streak of the Gunners. But it followed the revelations of their manager Mikel Arteta who only made the matter worse. Arteta explained the setbacks that are haunting his team highlighting their frailty in terms of campaign. Moreover, they are only three points ahead at the summit.
Yep, this one hurts honestly. I don’t know what to say anymore but just I love this club from the bottom of my heart. The first defeat since end of August, just imagine. 18 games unbeaten but unfortunately that’s record ended today… and guess what, Arsenal will stay at top of… pic.twitter.com/vZgwzWVCxe
— Arsenal Inside (@arsenalinside_) December 6, 2025
Mosquera’s Extended Absence
Central to the agony was the update on young defender Cristhian Mosquera. He limped off during the midweek Champions League clash against Club Brugge. Initially feared as a minor ankle sprain, scans revealed a more severe ligament issue. “It’s worse than we thought,” Arteta admitted somberly. “He’s out for weeks.” The 21-year-old Spaniard, a breakout star this season with his commanding presence at the back, now faces a festive period on the sidelines, depriving Arsenal of vital depth amid a congested schedule.
Trossard’s Touch-and-Go Status
Compounding the crisis, Arteta provided a cautious prognosis on Leandro Trossard, the Belgian forward who netted Arsenal’s equalizer against Villa before appearing to aggravate a hamstring tweak late on. “Leandro felt something, but we’re hopeful it’s not too bad,” the manager said, tempering optimism with realism. Trossard’s versatility has been pivotal, often deployed as a false nine or on the left, and his potential absence could force reshuffles, with Gabriel Martinelli or untested academy prospects stepping up.
Resilience in the Face of Setbacks
Arteta, ever the pragmatist, refused to dwell: “These things happen in football; we adapt.” However, there is no action within the league until January 20, the international break is the silver lining to the recovery. Medical department in Arsenal will focus on rehabilitation, yet the defeats reveal susceptibility of the squad- the injury-prone setbacks of the previous season.
As featured on GoonerNews.com