Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta spoke fondly about defender Cristhian Mosquera ahead of the Carabao Cup fourth-round tie against Fleetwood Town tonight.
The Spain international started the season as the right-sided centre-back in William Saliba’s injury absence, but he picked up an ankle issue against Aston Villa on the road.
His setback paved the way for summer signing Ezri Konsa to make his debut. The Englishman is now an undisputed starter alongside Gabriel Magalhaes with Saliba still sidelined.
Mosquera has not played a single minute for the Gunners since his 79-minute appearance at Villa Park, but he could feature against Fleetwood at Highbury Stadium tonight.
In an embargoed presser for the game, Arteta said on Mosquera: “When he has played, he’s done really well. We have won some big games playing with him, and we need him.”
Mosquera poised to start vs Fleetwood
The 22-year-old arrived at Arsenal from Valencia for an initial £13 million in the summer of 2025. The La Liga outfit had little choice, given his contract was expiring in 12 months.
Mosquera has since proved a brilliant acquisition. He has delivered several top-notch performances and provided exceptional cover for Saliba and Gabriel in his maiden campaign at Arsenal.
The Spaniard has primarily played in central defence with an occasional right-back role. He had a fine debut season, aside from the costly penalty he conceded in the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain (1-1), where he was given a difficult challenge at right-back.
Mosquera has hardly put a foot wrong for the Gunners since. His injury came at the wrong time at the start of the new season and now needs to settle for a rotational role due to Konsa’s brilliance.
Arteta made nine changes to the starting XI for the Carabao Cup third-round tie at Ipswich Town in September, and we can fully expect something similar against Fleetwood on the road.
The Gunners have a huge Premier League clash at Liverpool on Sunday. The Reds have had the better of Arsenal at Anfield over the years, and Arteta will want his key players well rested.
Hence, Konsa and Gabriel should be on the bench at best tonight. Club graduate Marli Salmon, Piero Hincapie, Riccardo Calafiori and Mosquera are among the manager’s other centre-back options.
Ben White will mostly be rested, while Jurrien Timber may start at right-back.
Calafiori may not be risked after he was carrying a minor niggle against Everton. Meanwhile, Hincapie could be called up to start at left-back, with Calafiori and Myles Lewis-Skelly getting a breather.
That leaves Salmon and Mosquera as the likely central defensive pairing tonight. Salmon may or may not feature, but Mosquera looks poised to make his first start since August 31 after Arteta’s glowing comments about him during the delayed pre-match presser.
Stats from Transfermarkt.com