Whereas Arsenal‘s incapability to win a trophy final season very a lot boiled all the way down to a scarcity of a centre-forward, a scarcity of squad depth may also be attributed to that.
The Gunners suffered loads of damage blows all through 2024/25. At one stage, they had been lacking all of their senior centre forwards whereas Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard had been absent for giant components of the marketing campaign too.
Reality be advised, issues have not been significantly better in that regard through the ongoing season. Viktor Gyokeres, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus have all missed soccer, whereas all the backline, Myles Lewis-Skelly apart, have missed matches by way of damage.
Subsequently, it is simply as nicely Andrea Berta acted with intent to strengthen Mikel Arteta‘s squad final summer season.
How Andrea Berta has reworked Arsenal’s squad
When Berta arrived at Arsenal in March 2025, he knew he had one major job. That was to signal Arsenal a striker.
Nicely, you’ll be able to put a tick in that checkbox. Whereas the Gunners tracked Benjamin Sesko – who ended up at Manchester United – they ended up concluding a deal for Gyokeres.
The Swede seemed to be the lacking piece of the puzzle. Each man, girl, little one and their canine knew that Arteta wanted a brand new striker and right here he was, contemporary off the again of scoring 54 targets in 52 video games for Sporting final season.
Nonetheless, life has been a bit tougher for Gyokeres throughout his time within the English capital. In all honesty, the striker regarded like a catastrophic waste of cash, a participant who did not should put on the well-known #14 jersey.
Nicely, he is now starting to show individuals flawed. The £63.5m acquisition has scored eight targets in his final 12 video games and delivered his most interesting efficiency in crimson and white but when Arsenal defeated arch-rivals Spurs 4-1. Gyokeres was on the scoresheet twice, bullying the Tottenham backline.
To be sincere, the jury has really been out on numerous Berta’s first signings. Noni Madueke has flattered to deceive after his £52m transfer throughout London, scoring simply two Premier League targets in 19 appearances. In the meantime, very like Gyokeres, Eberechi Eze regarded like a waste of cash.
Signed from Crystal Palace to a lot fanfare, the England worldwide scored a devastating hat-trick within the first north London derby of the season again in November however went 18 video games between that one and Sunday’s win with out scoring. He bagged twice on the weekend. There’s one thing about Spurs that makes him come alive.
Arsenal followers will little question be trying to find extra consistency from that trio, however importantly, it has added the required depth that Arteta did not have final season. Saying that, it is additional again the place Arsenal have benefited most from Berta’s work.
Martin Zubimendi has performed extra minutes than any outfield participant on the membership, a testomony to how good a signing he has been. In the meantime, Piero Hincapie’s performances are getting higher by the week. He bagged his first objective for the membership towards Wolves and dropped arguably his finest efficiency since arriving towards Spurs.
That stated, Berta’s finest signing was maybe certainly one of his most cost-effective.
£13m signing is the very best of the lot for Arsenal
Final summer season was a exceptional present of intent from Arsenal within the switch market, spending huge sums on the likes of Eze, Gyokeres, Zubimendi and Madueke.
Nonetheless, Berta and Arteta did be sure that just a few cheaper offers had been accomplished. Again-up goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga signed for simply £5m from Chelsea, Christian Norgaard was welcomed for £15m and most impressively, Cristian Mosquera arrived in a mere £13m deal.
It is secure to say that the transfer now seems to be like a theft. Arsenal pulled off one of many nice heists to lure the younger defender away from Valencia.
It was a fairly understated transfer on the time however it’s rapidly changing into one thing of a masterstroke. In an period the place switch charges are considerably inflated, this seems to be like a exceptional piece of enterprise.
Aged 21, the centre-back might have solely performed 21 video games and 553 Premier League minutes for Arsenal, however within the phrases of analyst Spencer Mossman, he’s already “on his strategy to changing into probably the greatest centre-backs on this planet.”
Why? Nicely, he boasts the very best traits of each William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes. Like Gabriel, he is obtained that warrior spirit, an aggression to his sport that scares attackers. Nonetheless, like Saliba, he is additionally obtained the poise and charm of an elite-level central defender.
|
Mosquera vs Arsenal centre-backs in 25/26 |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Stat (per 90 minutes) |
Mosquera |
Saliba |
Gabriel |
|
Passes accomplished |
56 |
70.2 |
53.7 |
|
Go accuracy |
91.25% |
92.6% |
89.34% |
|
Aerial duels gained |
1.7 |
2.6 |
3.6 |
|
Floor duels gained |
3.5 |
2 |
2.4 |
|
Duels gained |
5.1 |
4.6 |
5.9 |
|
Interceptions |
1 |
0.7 |
0.8 |
|
Touches |
73.9 |
85.8 |
73.3 |
|
Ball recoveries |
3.5 |
4.1 |
1.9 |
Mosquera has not put a foot flawed since transferring to England and he set the tone with an excellent efficiency towards Liverpool again in August.
Saliba hobbled off early on with an damage and despite the fact that Arsenal misplaced, Mosquera deputised admirably, finishing 92% of his passes and profitable 4 of his 5 duels.
Whereas the younger defender might not have been the primary alternative this season, each time he is been wanted to come back in as a consequence of damage, he is been close to faultless.
Not simply able to dominating from central areas, Mosquera demonstrated his versatility by delivering a effective efficiency from right-back towards Spurs final weekend.
The teen got here on for the ultimate 33 minutes, changing Jurrien Timber and locking down the sport on the right-hand aspect with absolute ease. The previous Valencia man gained all 5 of his duels and solely misplaced possession thrice from his 18 touches of the ball late within the sport.
It was proof that Arteta has a mighty effective defender on his palms, maybe even probably the greatest younger gamers in European soccer.
They had been very totally different instances certainly, however this can be a transfer that has echoes of Patrick Vieira and Thierry Henry. Relative unknowns on the time, they arrived for £3.5m and £11m respectively earlier than changing into two of the best gamers we have ever seen in Premier League historical past.
Whereas we’re not suggesting Mosquera will probably be forged in bronze exterior the Emirates Stadium as soon as he retires, he’s minimize from an identical material. A younger, unknown participant when he arrived, he is obtained that Vieira-like spirit that may undoubtedly carry him to stardom in north London. It won’t be too far to counsel he is a future captain within the making too. He radiates confidence and has an aura about him that not many possess.
If he does really change into probably the greatest on this planet, as Mossman predicts, then the Gunners might nicely have a £100m expertise on their palms right here.
Saliba has already been valued at that price ticket amid curiosity from Actual Madrid, so it is not out of the realm of risk.
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