Arsenal door opens for player with ‘enormous potential’ as Mikel Arteta shares injury update
Arsenal return to Premier League action with a home clash against Crystal Palace, and Mikel Arteta has a conundrum to solve.
In their midweek Champions League showdown, Arsenal thrashed Atletico Madrid 4-0 to remain joint-top of the league phase.
The Gunners are also flying high in the Premier League, and after their 1-0 victory over Fulham last weekend, Mikel Arteta’s men moved three points clear at the top.
Leandro Trossard’s strike proved to be the winner that edged them ahead of Manchester City and Liverpool in the title race.
Football Insider’s Matt Le Tissier thinks Man City will win the Premier League, but as it stands, the North Londoners are in the driving seat.
Mikel Arteta shares Gabriel Magalhaes injury update
Gabriel was one of four scorers during their trouncing of Atletico Madrid, and the 27-year-old continued his exceptional form at the start of the 2025/26 campaign.
The Brazilian, who has formed an indispensable partnership with William Saliba in recent seasons, is crucial to their hopes of winning the title.
So, when Arteta revealed in his pre-match press conference that Gabriel is a doubt for the clash against Crystal Palace, alarm bells would have started ringing.
“Big Gabi had to leave the pitch with an issue, and he hasn’t been able to train yet,” the Arsenal boss said. “Let’s see how he trains over the next 24 hours.”
The defensive powerhouse faces a race against time to be fit for this weekend’s clash, and that could open up the door for Cristhian Mosquera to start.
Cristhian Mosquera’s chance to shine
Arsenal signed Mosquera from Valencia for just £13million during the summer transfer window, and the 21-year-old has already proven his worth despite limited minutes.
Mosquera was excellent during Arsenal’s win against Athletic Club in September; meanwhile, he was also brilliant in Premier League clashes with Liverpool and Nottingham Forest.
The Colombian slotted seamlessly into the backline in Saliba’s absence, and could now play alongside the Frenchman this weekend.
If he does, Arteta has already shown he trusts the youngster, even lauding his ‘enormous potential’ after bringing him to the Emirates.
“We’re delighted to welcome Cristhian to Arsenal,” Arteta said. “As a 21-year-old defender, Cristhian has already performed consistently well with significant experience in La Liga. He is an intelligent player with good pace, who can play centrally and on both sides.
“He is a young player with exciting talent and enormous potential, who will fit well into our squad as we continue to prepare for next season.
“Cristhian adds good quality to our squad, and we look forward to working with him and making him feel at home with us.”