The most effective indicators of Cristhian Mosquera’s high quality may be discovered within the sheer variety of minutes he has performed. Since being drafted into the Valencia group on the age of 19 in August 2023, he has began 70 league video games out of a attainable 72.
In most likely probably the most difficult place on the pitch tactically, and with all of the strain of enjoying for one of many largest golf equipment in Spain as they navigated a turbulent interval, the younger centre-back got here to be seen as undroppable by two totally different managers.
His whole of 6,394 minutes performed throughout the final two seasons is the best by anybody aged 21 or below in Europe’s top-five leagues. The quantity of enjoying time highlights reliability and robustness. It additionally gave suitors comparable to Arsenal loads to go on.
Clearly they appreciated what they noticed, and so they weren’t the one ones, with Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig additionally mentioned to have tracked him.
The Spain U21 worldwide is ready to go to Arsenal with a status as one of the crucial promising younger centre-backs in Europe, his enchantment heightened by a comparatively low price-tag within the closing 12 months of his deal.
He has examined himself in opposition to a few of the world’s finest attacking gamers in LaLiga, with one standout efficiency coming in opposition to Actual Madrid on the Bernabeu in April, when he helped shackle Kylian Mbappe as Valencia claimed a late 2-1 victory.
He suits the invoice as a high-potential participant with each expertise and the capability to develop additional. He’s proper footed however, having performed on each side and even in a again three, he’s adaptable sufficient to offer competitors for Gabriel Magalhaes in addition to William Saliba.
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Talking on the Switch Discuss Podcast, Dharmesh Sheth explains why Arsenal are appearing on their long-standing curiosity in Cristhian Mosquera
His bodily qualities are eye-catching. Mosquera has an imposing body at 6ft 2ins however he’s additionally fast and agile, with lengthy legs and a knack for profitable possession cleanly however forcefully. He not often commits fouls and can also be composed in possession.
There are areas for enchancment too. Mosquera boasted the next ground-duel success charge than any of Arsenal’s centre-back choices final season at 70.7 per cent however, regardless of his top, he ranked backside for aerial duel success at 45.2 per cent.
He’s nonetheless studying having solely turned 21 in June, so it’s hardly shocking that sure parts of his sport are nonetheless uncooked.
“He is a player who has shown great potential in a short period of time,” a former staffer in Valencia’s scouting and evaluation division tells Sky Sports activities. “He became a very important for us and contributed a lot despite his age.
“He must work on some key points, like his decision-making. He’s intense and aggressive in the way in which he defends however generally he wants to decide on the appropriate moments and perceive when it will be higher to drop again or maintain his place.
“For a league like the Premier League, his aerial play isn’t a big strength, but he is quick on the cover, in defensive one-vs-ones and when running back towards his own goal.”
Cristhian Mosquera impressed in opposition to Actual Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe final season
Mikel Arteta and his coaches will hope to harness Mosquera’s strengths whereas additionally honing his aerial sport in the identical method they did his soon-to-be team-mate Saliba’s.
A weak point when he arrived on the membership, it has turn out to be an space of energy for the France worldwide. Solely Ben White posted a superior aerial success charge than him at Arsenal final time period.
In fact, context is essential in terms of assessing gamers too.
The identical supply from Valencia mentions that Mosquera has had some points defending set-pieces, for instance, however places them right down to a dedication to zonal marking which triggered the group issues collectively, significantly below their former supervisor Ruben Baraja, who was changed by Carlos Corberan in December.
Cristhian Mosquera improved his passing sport at Valencia
“The type of zonal marking he found difficult demands specific tactical principles, such as dominating space, positioning, interpreting crossing and shooting positions, coordinating with team-mates about where their different zones overlap.
“Man-to-man marking requires a unique set of rules, issues like watching the ball and your opponent concurrently, bodily contact, coordinating with team-mates to swap opponents, adjusting marking schemes relying on probably the most harmful gamers, blocking runs, figuring out runners from exterior the field.”
A problem at Valencia may not matter so much at Arsenal, in other words. Their favoured hybrid approach, where some players are instructed to defend zonally and others are asked to go man-to-man from set-pieces, should suit Mosquera better.
Arsenal will also be encouraged by the development of his passing.
Mosquera took on extra accountability in Valencia’s build-up play final season, averaging extra touches and passes per 90 minutes than within the earlier marketing campaign. He additionally despatched the next share of passes ahead and accomplished the next share, posting an general accuracy charge of 91.2 per cent.
“In terms of playing out from the back, he improved a lot with the arrival of Carlos Corberan and with his promotion to Spain’s U21s,” provides the supply from Valencia.
“He doesn’t have the level of other centre-backs like Pau Torres, who are really good at it, but he has reduced the number of errors he was making. He is providing more fluidity in possession and now has the courage to drive forward to open up passing lanes.
“He’s not essentially a participant to get rid of opponents by breaking traces together with his passes, however he’s enhancing. He’s including extra velocity to his passing and he does not give the ball away as a lot.”
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How does Viktor Gyokeres actually evaluate to the Premier League’s finest forwards?
Like Christian Norgaard, who will function a back-up to Martin Zubimendi, and anticipated additions Viktor Gyokeres and Noni Madueke, who will present competitors for Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli respectively, Mosquera is finally one other signing supposed so as to add depth to Arsenal’s squad.
However he additionally has thrilling potential and, even having solely simply turned 21, sufficient expertise already behind him to recommend he may step in when wanted and maintain Saliba and Gabriel on their toes.
Sky Sports activities to indicate 215 dwell Premier League video games
From subsequent season, Sky Sports activities’ Premier League protection will improve from 128 matches to not less than 215 video games completely dwell.
And 80 per cent of all televised Premier League video games subsequent season are on Sky Sports activities.
