After 4 arrivals in as many weeks, Arsenal continued their summer season spending spree with the signing of Valencia defender Cristhian Mosquera. However who’s the Spaniard, what is going to he deliver to the aspect and why is he costing (as much as) £16 million?
Phil Costa stories.
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Cristhian Mosquera wasn’t all the time destined to play for Valencia (and even soccer for that matter) as a result of as a child, his past love was truly basketball – till his cousin’s futsal crew wanted some further gamers for a event of their hometown of Alicante. It was there the place he caught the bug and started to play extra often, earlier than he was picked up by native aspect Hercules and later regional giants Los Che.
Sadly for this historic membership, it’s been a turbulent decade underneath the possession of Peter Lim, and Mosquera has seen all of it. Regardless of two fourth place finishes in that timeframe, they’ve principally sat in mid-table and even flirted with relegation; aided by some shoddy switch enterprise, lacklustre managerial appointments and poor administration of their youth academy which has beforehand produced the likes of David Silva, Isco and Jordi Alba.
Usually, that type of surroundings doesn’t lend itself to growing younger gamers who want stability and safety to thrive. However for the reason that defender got here into their senior squad in August 2023, he has began 70 league video games out of a potential 72 – enjoying extra minutes than another U-21 participant throughout Europe in that interval; and almost 1000 extra minutes than his nearest competitor Guillame Restes (who’s a goalkeeper).
He hasn’t simply been a spare half, however somebody who’s flourished with a way of accountability and management alongside youthful companions following the departure of Gabriel Paulista, who he initially began alongside in defence. Possibly there’s an argument for progress coming from chaos and never order, in spite of everything.
There have been whispers about Arsenal’s just lately appointed sporting director Andrea Berta desirous to signal him for Atletico Madrid throughout his time in Spain, so this transfer isn’t totally shocking, however what could have stood out to him and others throughout the recruitment crew is his one-v-one defending. Taking part in totally on the left aspect of defence (we’ll get to this later) alongside the taller, extra measured Cesar Tarrega, Mosquera is the aggressor who goes attempting to find the ball, is prepared to leap out of place and capitalise on stray passes or poor first touches, to win possession again rapidly, and get his crew stepping into transition.
Your mileage might differ on this explicit comparability however there’s a contact of Antonio Rudiger about him, when it comes to their bodily profile, their gangly legs and sheer need to be as irritating for the opposition as potential. However he isn’t reckless, and can solely go chasing if the appropriate alternative presents itself which is a top quality younger defenders typically lack. Of all 195 gamers to aim 50+ true tackles in LaLiga final season, Mosquera had the very best success price (76.7%) which not solely highlights his conviction and energy in duels, however a powerful sense of timing as effectively to evaluate conditions with a transparent head and keep away from charging in full-blooded.
His defensive fundamentals are sturdy and you may see the arrogance he emits when remoted. He backs himself, and there’s an actual feeling of you’re not getting previous me – which then filters into the opposition when dealing with him. His approach feels fairly boxer-like when he engages individuals, in that he lowers his stance, hunches ahead and bounces on his toes to make sure he can spring at any second.
He does go to floor sometimes which can set off nightmares reminiscences about one other defender signed from Valencia, however Mosquera normally saves these challenges for safer areas the place penalties may not be so heavy, versus central areas and even contained in the penalty field the place they may price you factors. Even then, his type is way cleaner, the place he’ll look to wrap a leg across the ball as an alternative of lunging in two-footed.
One other encouraging high quality for Arteta is that he’s equally snug being the sweeper, utilizing his spectacular restoration pace and lengthy strides to eat up huge areas. The 21-year-old was imperious towards each Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr throughout Valencia’s shock 2-1 win on the Bernabeu in April, marshaling each gamers expertly but additionally matching them stride for stride when transitions arose.
So what’s he like in possession? We’ve been spoiled as a fanbase to have somebody as effortlessly good as William Saliba constructing play from deep, who crushes nearly each passing metric with a silk gown on, and a pipe in his mouth – however that has warped our brains as a result of nearly unrealistic requirements have been set.
Mosquera is snug on the ball and his numbers get up effectively, though I wish to see some extra journey from time to time. The 21-year-old is secure, regular and can typically play brief passes to these closest to him (normally a full again or defensive midfielder) earlier than making himself out there once more. His cross completion price was 91.2% final season – larger than another teammate – which deserves credit score contemplating he was enjoying on the left aspect of defence and wanted to make use of his weaker foot so much; a problem he quickly welcomed.
He additionally averaged extra touches per recreation, extra passes per recreation and performed a better proportion of ahead passes final time period than the earlier marketing campaign. Nevertheless it’s a comparatively low bar to clear, as a result of per Opta knowledge, he ranked eleventh in La Liga for complete passes tried (2,048) however simply 76 of them (3.8%) of them ranked as progressive. Can he add some extra various passing into his repertoire? A punch by way of the strains, a fade out huge, a dink excessive – completely. Though there may be hope, as a result of I didn’t suppose a lot of Gabriel’s passing when he first joined and now he’s greater than succesful; possibly it’s one thing that wants time.
His carrying numbers ought to supply extra trigger for pleasure, as a result of solely six defenders throughout the highest flight recorded extra ball carries (503) than him final season – all of whom performed for extra possession-dominant sides. That’s simply one other methodology of development; solely barely totally different to what we sometimes take into consideration.
Nevertheless, one thing value keeping track of is his aerial capability which stands out like a sore thumb. For somebody so tall and athletic, the distinction between his floor duel success price (70.7%) and his aerial duel success charges (45.2%) is stark, with Premier League gamers needing no second invitation to benefit from somebody they contemplate weak in crowded penalty areas.
It’s a very unusual quirk in his recreation with no apparent rationalization; is it a problem of approach, positioning or timing? Possibly Mosquera simply doesn’t like to go the ball? Spanish soccer is certainly extra technical, extra “ball on the bottom” than others, however that is one thing that must enhance regardless of now having a goalkeeper behind him who can pluck balls out of the sky and one other centre again accomplice who heads them away for enjoyable.
Arsenal are successfully killing two birds with one signing. Not solely are they changing Takehiro Tomiyasu with a younger, versatile defender, however defending the hamstrings of Saliba and Gabriel as effectively. Clearly in the event that they’re match, they may play most video games and rightly so; we’re fortunate sufficient to have the very best central defensive partnership in world soccer. However by way of harm and maybe Arteta not trusting the fringes of his squad sufficient, each of their seasons ended with hamstring accidents – one in all which required surgical procedure.
The membership pushed for Dean Huijsen earlier this summer season (who profiles equally to Mosquera), so it’s clear they’d such a signing in thoughts, though he would have price thrice extra and brought a substantial chunk out of our price range with different areas to strengthen. You possibly can argue Huijsen might be the higher participant proper now however might the membership accommodate his potential and need to play? With a full season of prime flight soccer already underneath his belt, that will have been more and more troublesome except he was offered with sure ensures.
Mosquera joins the membership in that candy spot of being younger with potential to develop, whereas having already performed a good quantity of senior soccer. This transfer will probably be a shock to the system for somebody who has solely ever recognized the strategies and workings of 1 membership; new league, new language, new relationships – and we’ve seen with Jakub Kiwior how that takes time to handle. However there may be a lot to be enthusiastic about regardless of his tough edges; and our minimal outlay ensures some degree of safety when assessing the longer term.
It’s not a simple factor to enhance the very best defence within the league, however this signing isn’t solely about bringing in somebody new and thrilling; however about defending what we have already got. He helps us try this in each central defensive positions and at proper again too – and all for a really cheap value. The very best time to restore your roof is when the solar is shining.
