Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta praised the performance of new singing Cristhian Mosquera in the 1-0 defeat to reigning Premier League champions Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday, Afrosport reports.
The 21-year-old Spanish centre-back of Colombian heritage, who joined the Gunners from Villarreal, came on for the injured William Saliba after just five minutes and put in a decent defensive performance with three successful clearances, four tackles and a 92% passing accuracy.
He was however unable to prevent Arsenal from making it three wins from three league games after Dominik Szoboszlai’s 83rd minute free kick went beyond the reach of the Arsenal defence and into the net.
Reflecting on Mosquera’s performance, Arteta said: “To play your first game at Anfield when you’ve been thrown on after an injury to Saliba is very, very difficult, so it was phenomenal.
“I think you have to take that honesty and that personality as well to deliver that, and as we said, with the help of everything, I think he had a really good game.”
Meanwhile, Arteta took some positives from the defeat.
“There’s a lot of positives and I think the result should have been different, very different again,” he explained.
“Unfortunately we’ve had a lot of injuries, so hopefully after the break we’re going to be in a better place.
“The team is giving, I think, very, very quality signs, so we need to keep building on that.”
Cristhian Mosquera vs Liverpool:
⏱️85 minutes
🔄51 passes
📈90% pass accuracy
🛡️4 tackles
⛔️2 blocked shots
🧹3 clearances
⚔️4/5 duels wonA very solid performance by the 21-year-old Arsenal centre-back. pic.twitter.com/Da7TV1dIoW
— Football Talent Scout – Jacek Kulig (@FTalentScout) August 31, 2025
Arsenal will next host Nottingham Forest at the Emirates Stadium after the international break on September 13.
