🚨BREAKING NEWS:‼️ “They can’t afford to make mistakes — this new signing is top notch and is ready to take their place!” — Arsenal legend Martin Keown issues a strong warning to this one Arsenal player as he hails the ONE signing Arteta brought in this summer who will make the difference 👏🔥
Arsenal legend Martin Keown has told William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães they “cannot afford mistakes” as competition for places intensifies with the arrival of Cristhian Mosquera.
Saliba and Gabriel have been central to Mikel Arteta’s defence in recent years, but Keown believes new signing Mosquera has the quality to challenge their partnership.
Arsenal brought in the 21-year-old centre-back from Valencia this summer, and Keown considers him a significant upgrade on Jakub Kiwior.
Speaking on TNT Sports ahead of Arsenal’s Premier League clash with West Ham, Keown said:
“Mosquera is top class. He’s got the same profile as Saliba and Gabriel – strong, quick, powerful. Kiwior maybe lacked that. Now, the level is so high that Mosquera will push them even more. They can’t afford to slip up.”
So far this season, Saliba has started four of Arsenal’s six league matches, missing the Nottingham Forest game with an ankle issue and coming off the bench against Newcastle. Gabriel, meanwhile, has been ever-present, even scoring a late winner against the Magpies last weekend.
Mosquera has steadily been introduced into the team, making his Premier League debut as a substitute against Leeds before starting in the victory over Forest. He has also featured in big matches, replacing Saliba early against Liverpool and Gabriel late on against Olympiakos in the Champions League.
Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta has already hailed Mosquera as “one of the strongest young defenders in Europe,” while Arteta praised his versatility and potential.
“He’s intelligent, quick, and can play centrally or on either side. He’s a young talent with huge potential,” the Arsenal boss said.
