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Arsenal face a significant defensive crisis as centre-back Cristhian Mosquera could be sidelined for at least six weeks with an ankle injury sustained during Wednesday’s match against Brentford, dealing a major blow to Mikel Arteta’s title-chasing squad ahead of Saturday’s crucial encounter with Aston Villa at Villa Park.
Mosquera Faces Six-Week Layoff as Arsenal’s Injury Crisis Deepens Before Villa Clash
The Gunners currently sit atop the Premier League table, maintaining a commanding five-point advantage over second-placed Manchester City and six points ahead of third-placed Aston Villa.
However, Arteta’s defensive options have been severely depleted with Gabriel still recovering from injury and William Saliba described as being “days” away from returning to full fitness after his recent setback.
Mosquera’s injury represents a particularly frustrating development for Arsenal, as the summer signing had impressed while deputising for the club’s first-choice centre-back pairing alongside fellow new arrival Piero Hincapie.
The defender requires further medical assessment to determine the full extent of the ankle problem, with BBC Sport reporting the six-week timeframe that would rule him out until late January.
Declan Rice remains a doubt for the Villa Park encounter after suffering a calf problem during the midweek fixture, though Arteta expressed cautious optimism about his star midfielder’s availability.
The Arsenal manager confirmed that Rice’s fitness would be assessed following Friday’s training session, with every hour proving crucial in determining the England international’s participation in the weekend’s fixture.
Arsenal’s injury concerns have been compounded by fixture congestion, with the club reportedly expressing frustration over the scheduling of Saturday’s early kickoff following Wednesday evening’s demanding encounter.
The quick turnaround leaves minimal recovery time during December’s packed fixture list, raising concerns about player welfare and physical preparation.
Arteta acknowledged the challenging circumstances surrounding his squad’s preparation, emphasising his desire to provide players with maximum recovery time whenever possible.
The Spanish manager confirmed his team’s readiness for the Villa clash despite the mounting injury problems, as Arsenal look to maintain their position at the Premier League summit during a crucial period of the campaign.
