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Cristhian Mosquera Hands Arteta Selection Headache
Arsenal maintained their 100% record in the Champions League with an impressive 3-1 win away from home against Inter Milan, which secured their spot in the Round of 16. And one player really caught the eye with his performance at the San Siro.
The Gunners only needed 10 minutes to find a breakthrough, as Gabriel Jesus poked the ball home after some neat build-up play. But the hosts responded just eight minutes later, as Petar Sucic levelled proceedings.
Both sides had chances to take the lead, but it was Arsenal who then went in front in familiar fashion. Jesus grabbed his second of the night after a corner was headed back across the face of goal, with the Brazilian unable to miss from close range.
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The end-to-end nature of the game continued in the second half, with substitute Francesco Pio Esposito coming close to levelling proceedings once again in the 66th minute. But Viktor Gyokeres then put the icing on the cake with a late third goal, ensuring that Mikel Arteta’s side made it seven wins from as many games.
Arsenal Star’s Fantastic Performance Gives Arteta Selection Dilemma
It’s been a season to remember for Arsenal so far, with them contending for trophies on four fronts. The bedrock of that success has been their excellent defence, particularly Gabriel and William Saliba, who have been at the heart of the backline for much of the term.
However, Arteta chose to rest the Brazilian against Inter, handing Cristhian Mosquera a first start since returning from an ankle injury. And despite being out for most of December, the Spaniard didn’t look as though he’d missed a minute of action against the Italian giants.
Despite Arsenal’s status as one of the best teams in the world, they were put under significant pressure by Inter during parts of their European match. And while everyone in the team played their part, Mosquera in particular was excellent for the majority of the game.
Midway through the first half, the Nerazzurri launched a counter attack as the team in red tracked back. But Mosquera was on hand to hold up the advancing attackers, before putting pressure on Marcus Thuram which led to a wild effort off-target.
While he did give away three fouls, he got tight to the likes of Thuram, Esposito and Martinez to limit their threat. Making eight defensive contributions on the night, he was not dribbled past once over the course of 75 minutes.
Check Out Mosquera’s Stats From the Game Below:
|
Cristhian Mosquera’s Statistics vs Inter |
|
|---|---|
|
Minutes Played |
75 |
|
Interceptions |
0 |
|
Clearances |
2 |
|
Blocked Shots |
3 |
|
Recoveries |
5 |
|
Ground Duels (Won) |
7 (3) |
|
Aerial Duels (Won) |
4 (1) |
|
Fouls |
3 |
|
Dribbled Past |
0 |
It was everything Arteta would have hoped for, but it does give him a selection issue moving forward. Gabriel and Saliba are the first-choice pairing, but Mosquera has proven that he is more than capable of starting big matches. While it’s good to have options, the Spaniard will need to keep all three of his centre-backs happy.
Fans Celebrate ‘Brilliant’ Mosquera for Performance vs Inter Milan
There has been no shortage of praise for Mosquera’s display on the night, with several Arsenal fans singing his praises for the incredible shift he put in on Tuesday. One wrote: “Mosquera has been brilliant. We’re hanging him out to dry but he’s doing everything he can.”
The Telegraph’s Sam Dean was equally impressed by what he saw from the centre-back, stating: “Cristhian Mosquera has only played a handful of games for Arsenal but he has repeatedly demonstrated his impressive ability to defend open spaces. It’s not just his speed but also his timing: when to challenge, when to hold off.”
One particular moment caught the eye of several fans, after Mosquera helped prevent a promising opportunity for Inter in the 26th minute. They wrote: “Wonderful defending from Mosquera. Monster.”
Another echoed that sentiment, saying: “Mosquera is special.” And one more sung the praises of the recruitment team for bringing him to the Emirates in the summer, saying: “Mosquera looks really impressive every time he plays. One of the best bargain signings we have made.”
A final Arsenal supporter believes he has all the qualities to start more in the future, writing: “Mosquera was a brilliant pick up for us this season. Shame he got injured but he looks like someone who could push Gab and Saliba, let alone just be a stand-in.”
