Arteta says Mosquera fine after being substituted in Villa win

Cristhian Mosquera was taken off in the second half of Arsenal’s 1-0 victory at Aston Villa on Monday, prompting manager Mikel Arteta to address his condition after the match. The Spaniard, who had been a regular in the back line, left the field with the score still level before Bukayo Saka’s second‑half strike secured the win.

Arteta explained that Mosquera felt a looming issue and, with Jurrien Timber already unavailable, the club could not afford to gamble on the defender’s fitness. “We knew that if we had an injury on the back line with Jurrien out, we’d be in big trouble – so we had to do Ezri,” the manager said, adding that Mosquera was “fine” but needed to be cautious.

The decision opened the door for new signing Ezri Konsa to make his Arsenal debut against his former club. Despite a hostile reception from Villa fans, Konsa remained composed, displaying calmness and control in a difficult emotional environment.

Riccardo Calafiori highlighted the importance of securing the result over the overall performance, noting the clean sheet as a key factor. He also provided the decisive assist for Saka’s goal, marking his second assist of the campaign.

Overall, Arteta praised the squad depth required to compete on four fronts, confirming Mosquera’s status as stable while emphasizing the need for reliable cover in defence. For further context on Arsenal’s injury challenges, see the recent report on the double setback involving Rice and Mosquera. Arsenal double injury setback