As per the sources, Arsenal are going through a defensive crisis as both William Saliba and Gabriel are out of the game. Moreover, the development of Cristhian Mosquera’s timeline is getting longer as the number of injuries is increasing.
Defensive Crisis Hits Arsenal Hard
As the two best center-back pairs of their elite level collide, Arsenal’s title dreams get a tough challenge. The duo of William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães is still out of the game, and the team has had to make makeshift defensive changes in matches that are decisive for the league. The young player signed in the summer, Cristhian Mosquera, has also become a victim of the injury list, thus, the head coach of the team Mikel Arteta, is having a hard time picking his lineup. The fans are in a state of panic and they cannot wait for the definite return dates, which, they say, could decide the direction of the season. This disastrous situation is putting the reserve players to the test, as it has never been done before.
🚨🚫 Arteta: “We lost Gabriel, then we lost Saliba… and now Mosquera has also suffered an injury”.
“We have to wait and see. It's probably part of the knee or ankle. We don't know. He could not really tell us exactly how it was, but he wasn't able to continue”. pic.twitter.com/Jrurs9a0uC
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 4, 2025
Cristhian Mosquera and William Saliba: Background—The Defensive Spine Under Siege
Last season Arsenal built the Premier League’s hardest defense to break, with only 29 goals conceded in 38 games. Saliba’s absence due to a hamstring injury has made the team’s weaknesses visible right away, while Gabriel’s knee issue couldn’t have come at a worse time. So, there is Mosquera, whose £30m move from Valencia was suppose to provide both instant competition and future comfort.
The 22-year-old Spanish player got off to a great start, as Mosquera demonstrated his value against Port Vale. However, the injuries have stop the progress of this backline, whose development had been carefully plan. Martin Keown praised Mosquera’s potential, but now Arsenal are in a situation they have not been able to defy without their frontline defensive duo.
Key Stats:
Saliba: 0 goals conceded in 5 games before injury
Gabriel: Partners Saliba in 95% of clean sheets
Mosquera: 2 starts, 1 clean sheet before setback
Main Story: Individual Injury Timelines and Impact
William Saliba strains his hamstring and was manage carefully, with medical staff aiming for a mid-December return. His scans revealed no structural damage, but Arsenal are still prioritizing a full recovery before the player returns to the pitch. Gabriel Magalhães has a longer time away from the pitch after a knee ligament examination, probably missing at least three weeks. The Brazilian’s aerial dominance has been a great source of power during the most set-piece-heavy periods and has been difficult to replace.
Cristhian Mosquera got a muscle injury while on international duty and his quick impact against Nottingham Forest is now a long way from memory. The return dates for the three players are still uncertain, but club sources are quietly hoping that it will not be the end of the season for any of them. Arteta gave the ball to Riccardo Calafiori to play in central defense, but the Italian is suspending for the match against Wolves after getting five yellow cards. The emergency alternatives such as Jakub Kiwior and Ben White moving inside are short-term solutions that reveal the club’s lack of proper long-term planning.
Tactical Insight: Arsenal are conceding 2.3 xG per game without the Saliba-Gabriel partnership compared to 0.8 xG season average.
Fan Reactions: From Panic to Pragmatism
Arsenal fans are a bit of a roller coaster ride. They tweet up a storm calling for Saliba’s accelerated comeback and simultaneously can’t get enough of Arteta’s clever rotation of players. On the other hand, the Spanish press emphasizes the unfortunate side of Mosquera’s story just a few months after his triumphant arrival. Arsenal supporters vent their anger at the packed schedule that is exposing the club’s lack of depth, although they still applaud the youth players for their brilliant performance. The whole community is aware of the defensive frailties but believes in the medical team’s cautious approach to stop it from escalating further.
Cristhian Mosquera and William Saliba: The Strategic Implications—Title Race Pressure Mounts
These absences put to the test Arsenal’s true challenger status in their tough December schedule. Liverpool and Manchester City are getting a relative advantage by taking a full advantage of Arsenal’s makeshift backline. Mosquera’s long-term absence hampers his involvement and thus the team has to keep relying the untested players. From a money point of view, the situation is less costly as insurance clauses help to cover the expenses, but the harm to the competitiveness is beyond measure. Positive injury news is absolutely necessary if Arsenal want to keep hold of a top-four spot and progress in the Champions League.
Forward Outlook: Return Timelines Critical
Watch the mid-December games very carefully. The biggest positive effect is basically the comeback of Saliba, while the recovery of Gabriel and Mosquera will be use for the planning of January. The depth of Arsenal is the ultimate test to their strength—triumph here turns the emergency into a chance.
As featured on GoonerNews.com