Mikel Arteta made a critical change during Arsenal’s game against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday that ultimately helped his team see off Igor Tudor’s side – but it might leave the Spaniard with many sleepless nights moving forward.
Arsenal strolled to victory in N17, courtesy of a brace of braces from Viktor Gyokeres and Eberechi Eze. The Gunners are now unbeaten in eight games against their hated rivals, while they’ve won each of their last four games at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
More importantly than this exceptional derby record, Arteta’s team revitalised their Premier League title hopes with this emphatic win, moving five points clear of chasers Manchester City. All of a sudden, the mood music around the Emirates is positive again.
Mikel Arteta’s Cristhian Mosquera substitution in Tottenham vs Arsenal was brilliant
Arteta was criticised for some of his ploys against Wolves, particularly with some of the selection decisions he made in attack. Against Spurs, not only did he pick the right team, but he made a perfect in-game decision that paid dividends.
In the 57th minute, with the game poised at 2-1 to the away side, Arteta opted to replace Jurrien Timber with Cristhian Mosquera. Timber, who was on a yellow card, was starting to lag physically, showing signs of fatigue in his decision-making and recovering sprints off the ball.
Mosquera stepped onto the pitch and stabilised the Gunners in a crucial period of the game. Arsenal needed to take the sting out of the affair, control the game and continue to threaten in transition.
The Spanish defender’s arrival allowed this to happen. Calm and composed in possession, Mosquera cradled Arsenal’s build-up, without committing himself forward too often to risk leaving space for Xavi Simons to attack down the Gunners’ right-hand side.
Not only did he add a level of serenity in possession, he also helped Arsenal squeeze Spurs high up the pitch. He was instrumental in winning the ball back in a sequence that led to Bukayo Saka and Eze combing for a chance, while he was also on hand at the back post to clear the ball behind for a corner following David Raya’s outstanding save from Richarlison’s flick.
These telling contributions were indicative of a player comfortable operating in all phases of the game. While Arteta’s substitution was somewhat surprising at the time, it ultimately turned out to be a masterful decision.
| Cristhian Mosquera’s Statistics vs Tottenham | |
| Minutes Played | 33 |
| Touches | 18 |
| Tackles | 5 |
| Defensive Contributions | 7 |
| Key Passes | 1 |
| Accurate Passes | 8/10 (80%) |
| Clearances | 2 |
| Ground Duels Won | 5/5 (100%) |
Cristhian Mosquera deserves to play more regularly
At the start of the season, Mosquera was pulling up trees in William Saliba’s absence. However, after an injury kept him out for an extended period over Christmas, the 21-year-old’s ability to play regularly in a team competing for multiple honours was somewhat forgotten about.
Sunday’s pristine cameo was a reminder of what Mosquera can bring, and also a statement from the player that he can’t be ignored. The Spain under-21 international has been limited to just five Premier League starts all season – insufficient game time for a player of his calibre.
While he’s still young and developing, he can fulfil this squad role with minimal uproar. However, if he continues to showcase these levels, then Arteta will start to have a selection headache. Mosquera will need to play regular minutes, otherwise he’ll pack his bags and leave for a club that can offer him this.
