Arsenal’s centre-back crisis deepens as Mosquera joins Saliba and Gabriel on injury list
William Saliba
December 2025
Arsenal extended their outstanding league start with a routine 2-0 victory over Brentford but lost stand in centre-back Cristhian Mosquera to injury before half time, adding another defensive headache on top of existing problems for William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes. With Saliba and Gabriel already sidelined, Arteta paired new signings Mosquera and Piero Hincapie, only to see Mosquera forced off with a knock, while the manager later described Saliba’s niggle as a matter of days and Gabriel’s ankle issue as weeks, leaving the title favourites exposed in central defence during a crowded schedule.