Cast your mind back to the summer deadline day of 2024 and you may remember Edu standing outside Arsenal’s Colney training base in the dark.
It was late, so late in fact that the window had closed.
Edu was providing a rundown of why the Gunners signed Raheem Sterling on loan from Chelsea. “It was never the plan,” the Brazilian said.
Well, nearly a year on, Edu and Sterling have gone. Andrea Berta and Noni Madueke have replaced them.
When Berta arrived at the Emirates Stadium, supporters were keen to understand his practices, keen to see him get to work in the window.
Well, it’s safe to say he’s done a fabulous job so far, bringing in the aforementioned Madueke alongside Kepa Arrizabalaga, Martin Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard.
Viktor Gyokeres is also set to join once the add-ons of his move from Sporting have been finalised.
But Gyokeres aside, what else is happening this summer?
Arsenal's plans for the rest of the window
It’s safe to say that the Gunners have been particularly active in the market this window but they don’t have a bottomless pit of cash, and if and when Gyokeres finally arrives, it’s likely the focus will turn to outgoings.
Should they raise more cash there, it would not be a surprise to see Arsenal lodge a formal approach for Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze.
The hierarchy at Arsenal have already held talks with the player’s agent and it’s believed that personal terms have already been agreed.
Still, he’s not the only player with whom things feel more advanced.
According to reports from Spain, Arsenal have now finally “completed” a move to sign Valencia’s Cristhian Mosquera.
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The centre-back has been widely expected to move to England after he was spotted leaving Valencia’s training ground earlier in the week.
A leaked image even surfaced online of the player carrying out his media duties with Arsenal.
Yet, complications with the medical have allegedly led to a delay in the deal being confirmed. Alas, confirmation is now expected shortly.
That report from Spanish media suggests that all documents have been completed with only the player’s signature to be confirmed.
Why Mosquera is a good signing for Arsenal
This 21-year-old defender certainly isn’t a household name just yet but his education has been impressive and he’s got an old head on young shoulders.
Despite his age, he’s already played 90 times at senior level and he’s remarkably consistent too. No U21 player in Europe’s top five leagues played more minutes than him last season.
Mosquera’s availability is seriously impressive, as is the pressure that the centre-back’s been playing under.
Having come through the young ranks, he was thrown into the deep end of a relegation battle. One of Spain’s top sides, a former Champions League winner, were in deep trouble during the first half of 2024/25.
After 17 games, Mosquera and his teammates sat 19th in LaLiga, having won just two games. Yet, he managed to help dig his side out of a hole and was seen as a saviour come the end of the campaign with Valencia finishing 12th.
Coming into the squad amid a crisis, becoming a fan favourite and playing a huge amount of minutes, there are certainly comparisons with Bukayo Saka’s rise at Arsenal.
While Mikel Arteta’s side have never been close to relegation, Saka was seen as a saviour when the Spaniard first became manager. Arsenal had endured several years away from the Champions League and never looked like competing for a title before the duo emerged on the scene. Yet, just like Mosquera, the young Saka carried the club on his shoulders.
So, he’s clearly got elite mental fortitude, but how about his technical attributes? Well, he’s a lot like William Saliba in that regard.
Both standing at around 6 foot 3, they have a slightly gangly yet graceful play style.
Pass success %
90.5%
94.3%
Medium pass success %
93.9%
96.1%
Long pass success %
68.1%
79.9%
Progressive passes
3.33
4.08
Progressive carries
0.95
0.47
Tackles won
0.98
1.09
Interceptions
0.95
0.62
Aerial duels won
1.11
1.80
They are competent in the air but it’s in possession where they are most alike. Indeed, one analyst on social media notes how Mosquera is “Saliba-esque” when it comes to dribbling.
The clip below highlights this superbly well. In fact, if your vision was a little blurred, you’d be forgiven for thinking it was actually Saliba.
The way he holds the ball, rolls it forward and then bursts between the press is identical to Saliba who has made a living out of his supreme ball-playing confidence in an Arsenal shirt.
Long have the Gunners needed someone to play second fiddle to Gabriel and Saliba and in Mosquera, “an elite level prospect” in the words of analyst Harvey Diamonds, it looks as though they’ve found the ideal profile.
He’s got the mental stability of a young Saka and the technical defensive qualities of Saliba. That sounds like a lovely combination.
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