Mikel Arteta is making one pivotal Arsenal selection decision vs Chelsea, this could decide the game
Mikel Arteta will be faced with a straight choice between Piero Hincapie and Cristhian Mosquera for Sunday’s trip to take on Chelsea.
Arsenal beat Bayern 3-1 on Wednesday, with the latter starting and performing extremely well up against one of Europe’s best strikers in Harry Kane.
The Spaniard started alongside William Saliba, who is expected to start in the centre of defence regardless.
Hincapie was outstanding as Arsenal beat Tottenham 4-1 last week, however, providing a difficult choice for Arteta.
Gabriel was injured while on international duty with Brazil, and is likely to be missing until the new year.
Mikel Arteta has choice of superb defenders
Arsenal signed Hincapie on loan from Bayer Leverkusen on transfer deadline day, with the deal including an obligation to buy next summer.
The defender, despite being just 23, arrived with a sterling reputation earned during his time in the Bundesliga, but the Gunners have been forced to wait to see him in action.
| Cristhian Mosquera | Premier League 2025-26 |
| Appearances | 8 |
| Tackles | 8 |
| Duels won % | 59.1% |
| Interceptions | 5 |
| Recoveries | 12 |
| Dribbled past | 1 |
Injury ruled the Ecuador international out for much of the early season, with Hincapie‘s full debut coming against Brighton in the Carabao Cup.
In fact, it has been Mosquera, who arrived in a deal worth just £13million from Valencia, who has stolen many of the headlines.
The 21-year-old has looked immense in an Arsenal shirt, slotting straight in for Arteta’s side despite his tender age.
Against Kane, he was dominant, constantly a thorn in the side of the striker, who failed to even register a shot at the Emirates Stadium.
Mosquera is the less experienced of the two, but going off both players’ early appearances at Arsenal, he has just as much quality and may even be the more physically dominant.
Ability on the ball may edge decision in Piero Hincapie’s favour
If asked to pick out one mistake from Mosquera’s time at Arsenal so far, there is probably only one option to choose.
The Spaniard started at St James Park when the Gunners beat Newcastle United, but it was his loose pass that gave away the corner from which the home side scored the opening goal.
Mosquera has not made a similar mistake since, but given the intense press Chelsea will likely deploy on Sunday, Arteta will be looking to encourage as much quality on the ball as is possible.
From an albeit extremely small sample size in the case of Hincapie, the defender has offered 93.6 per cent passing accuracy across his Premier League appearances, compared to Mosquera’s 91.1 per cent.
With even the smallest mistake having huge potential damage for Arsenal on Sunday, Arteta may favour the Ecuador international.