Fakayejo Paul
LONDON, UK – Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has delivered worrying news regarding defender Cristhian Mosquera, confirming the Spanish centre-back is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
The injury is reportedly far more serious than the club’s initial assessment, significantly deepening Arsenal’s defensive injury crisis.
Mosquera, the 21-year-old summer signing from Valencia, picked up an ankle injury during the recent Premier League fixture against Brentford when he landed awkwardly after competing for a header.
Speaking to the press, Arteta expressed his disappointment: “Unfortunately he’s going to be out for weeks unfortunately, it’s much more than what we expected, but the player was feeling it, so he’s going to be out for weeks.”
Reports suggest the recovery could take anywhere from six to eight weeks, effectively ruling him out for the remainder of 2025 and possibly into mid-January 2026.
This devastating news comes at the worst possible time, as Mosquera was deputizing for the club’s first-choice centre-back pairing, William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães, both of whom are also currently injured.
With key defenders unavailable, Arsenal’s reliance on makeshift backlines and youth academy prospects for crucial fixtures against Wolves and in the Champions League has intensified.
The setback further increases the pressure on Arteta to find immediate defensive solutions, potentially forcing the club to be active in the upcoming January transfer window.