Why Arsenal are hoping to sign Christhian Mosquera from Valencia | OneFootball

Arsenal are hoping to complete the signing of defender Christhian Mosquera from Valencia.

The Gunners are in talks with the Spanish club over a deal for the 21-year-old.

Having joined Valencia aged 12, Mosquera made his senior debut five years later at the age of 17.  The Spanish defender has represented his country at the U15, U16, U18, U19, and most recently, at U21 level at the Euros.

Mosquera started three of La Roja’s four matches in the U21 European Championship, losing 3-1 to eventual champions England in the quarter-final.

He played every minute in 37 out of Valencia’s 38 league games last season, amassing over 3,300 minutes as part of a youthful squad that secured a mid-table finish in LaLiga.

But what exactly will Mosquera offer Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal, as they aim to end a 21-year wait and win the Premier League title?

More strength in depth in defence

While Arsenal brought in Jakub Kiwior two years ago to strengthen their defence, Mosquera represents a younger, more long-term investment.

Both Gabriel Magalhães and William Saliba have suffered injuries during crucial stretches in the last few seasons, periods when the Gunners needed stability at the back to sustain their push for silverware.

The 21-year-old already has a wealth of experience playing in Spain’s top flight and given his similar profile to Arsenal’s current first-choice central defenders, will be well-equipped to step in should Arsenal face similar injury setbacks again.

However, with Gabriel now 27, the Valencia defender is also the club laying the groundwork to form Arsenal’s next long-term centre-back partnership alongside Saliba.

There is also a possibility that Kiwior might move on this summer, after two years of being a bit-part player at the club, and Arsenal have been proactive in the case that a good offer does arrive.

Versatility

Ben White, Riccardo Calafiori, Jakub Kiwior and Jurrien Timber all arrived at Arsenal having played as centre-backs for their former clubs, but have demonstrated that they can play as full-backs when needed to.

Mosquera is no different. He is primarily a centre-back, but is comfortable playing as a full-back on both sides, making him an ideal fit for Arteta.

The Spanish defender also has some experience in different systems, whether it be a back four or a back three shape. This will be valuable given Arsenal’s use of Myles Lewis-Skelly, who inverts from left-back into midfield, requiring the back three to reposition themselves while in control of the ball.

Raw potential

Standing at 6’2, Mosquera has a strong, physical presence but is also very quick for his tall frame. He fits perfectly with the physical profile of Arteta’s squad and is a terrific athlete.

The 21-year-old has impressed with his ability to anticipate play and is quick off the mark, ranking second in La Liga for the number of loose ball recoveries last season with 190, behind only Barcelona’s Pedri, as per FBref.

That ability to hunt down loose balls also comes in handy when it comes to progressing with the ball at his feet, ranking in the 79th percentile for progressive carries compared with other central defenders in Europe’s top five leagues, also according to FBref.

Unlike Gabriel, he is more reserved in his approach to making challenges, choosing his moments carefully, which has earned him the reputation of being a more passive defender.

However, aerial duels remain a vulnerability. Despite his stature, the Spain U21 international only had a 44.6% success rate in aerial duels, placing him in only the 11th percentile of central defenders in Europe’s top five leagues last season.

This should not be seen as a huge concern, however, as he has all the tools to become aerially dominant, and he has plenty of years ahead of him to improve on his weaknesses while learning from two of the best central defenders in Europe.