Arteta Addresses Mosquera Injury Concerns Ahead of Deadline Day

Mikel Arteta insisted Cristhian Mosquera is “fine” after the defender limped off in Arsenal’s win over Aston Villa – and promised the club will be active as the transfer window ticks into its final hours.

Mosquera had been central to one of the game’s key moments, threading a sharp pass through the lines to release Eberechi Eze and Riccardo Calafiori and crack Villa open. Then came the scare. With around ten minutes of normal time left, he reached for the back of his leg and signalled to the bench.

The stadium held its breath. Arsenal’s bench moved.

Ezri Konsa, on for his debut and doing it against the club that helped make his name, was thrown straight into the closing stages. The change looked precautionary, and Arteta later confirmed exactly that.

“He is fine,” the Arsenal manager said. “But he was feeling like he was about to have something. That’s why we have the bench that we have, that’s why we had to bring Ezri on.”

Arteta has spent much of this season talking about margins – physical, tactical, psychological. This was another reminder. One twinge in the back line and the plan changes, the window suddenly feels smaller, the need for depth more urgent.

Arsenal are still looking to add in attack before the Deadline Day clock runs out, with Lyon winger Malick Fofana among the latest names under consideration. Arteta did not hide the club’s intent.

“We are trying to improve the squad, and until tomorrow night we’re going to try to do that,” he said. “I’ve been disconnected from the world for 24 hours, because I think my energy and focus has to be on the match, and I will get back on it now.”

The question, as always at this stage of the window, is whether Arsenal already have enough in the forward line to carry them through the season, especially after departures. Arteta’s answer cut straight to the reality of modern fixture lists.

“It depends if everybody’s fit or not,” he replied. “We can talk about today, but that scenario might change.”

He pointed to the recent absence of Willy Saliba as a warning sign. One injury at the back had already stretched them; another on Sunday underlined how quickly a squad can feel thin when you are chasing trophies on multiple fronts.

“We knew that with Willy out, we had an injury in the back line. We knew we were in big trouble, so we had to do everything. And today, Mosquera, he could not continue,” Arteta said. “So we know that the depth has to be really big when you’re fighting for four competitions, in the manner that we play as well. So we’re going to try to do that.”

Mosquera’s condition may not be serious, but the message around him was. Arsenal will not gamble on luck or on hamstrings holding out. With the deadline looming, Arteta made it clear: the result over Villa was important, but the next decisive move might come off the pitch.