'Outstanding' - Arsenal strike gold with cheap summer signing no one has been talking about
One of Arsenal’s underrated summer signings was outstanding during their win over Nottingham Forest.
Arsenal look to have snatched up a real gem, and it’s not any of the big-money signings. The Gunners had a busy summer that saw them spent more than £250million in a bid to end their more than two-decade-long pursuit of another Premier League title.
Among the new signings were the pricey Eberechi Eze, Noni Madueke, Martin Zubimendi and Viktor Gyokeres, who make up almost all of the money spent alone.
But one of the lesser appreciate signings - at least up to now - was centre-back Cristhian Mosquera, who joined on a £13million deal from Valencia. Mosquera is fancied to have a big future in the game, still only 21 and already with plenty of experience of top-flight football from his days at Mestalla.
But the Gunners were able to take advantage of his contract situation at Valencia, with the Spanish East coast club failing to offer him a new deal before Arsenal came to the table. That’s an error Valencia have made too many times under their current ownership, which is despised by their supporters.
Mosquera was not expected to play a big role this season, and especially not after Piero Hincapie was signed on loan on deadline day, but with William Saliba out, the defender started against Nottingham Forest on Saturday having done well off the bench in the Liverpool game.
The results were impressive, with Mosquera looking highly competent alongside Gabriel Magalhaes, helping to keep a usually dangerous and troublesome Chris Wood silent until the Forest striker was withdrawn just before the hour-mark.
Mosquera looks calm on the ball, something Arteta loves to see from his centre-backs, and strong against physical or quick attackers. Much of the attacking talent and Martin Zubimendi will get the praise for the win over Forest, but it is impossible to ignore what a 21-year-old with almost no Premier League experience did at the heart of Arsenal’s defence on Saturday afternoon. It was an outstanding display.
Gabriel’s leadership
Some fans on social media noticed an interesting image in the tunnel before the Forest game, with players lined up and ready to come out on to the pitch. Gabriel was spotted speaking into the ear of Gabriel and making tactical points even just moments before the game.
It was an impressive demonstration of the culture at Arsenal of making sure everyone is prepared and ready to fulfil their role. Of course, that’s not out of the ordinary in any way, and it is common place, but it will be nice from an Arsenal fan point of view to see a senior player doing his bit to help a young player who is about to be thrown into the deep end.
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