Opinion: Is Cristhian Mosquera Being Eyed as Saliba’s Long-Term Replacement?
To be a big club, you need to act like a big club. While Arsenal have not confirmed that Cristhian Mosquera is the long-term replacement for William Saliba, centre-back was not viewed as a position that needed strengthening this summer. Jakub Kiwior, Riccardo Calafiori, Jurrien Timber and Ben White can all cover centrally if either […] The post Opinion: Is Cristhian Mosquera Being Eyed as Saliba’s Long-Term Replacement? appeared first on Just Arsenal News.
RR aka Rishi-Raj
To be a big club, you need to act like a big club.
While Arsenal have not confirmed that Cristhian Mosquera is the long-term replacement for William Saliba, centre-back was not viewed as a position that needed strengthening this summer. Jakub Kiwior, Riccardo Calafiori, Jurrien Timber and Ben White can all cover centrally if either of our first-choice pairing is unavailable.
Yet are the Gunners thinking long term?
Reports in France and Spain suggest that, as things stand, Saliba does not feel the need to extend his contract. That means, this time next year, the 24-year-old could push for a transfer or threaten to leave for free the following season. Expect Real Madrid to call our bluff during that period, making offers while knowing his value diminishes with each passing month.
Arsenal must learn from past contract errors
While Mikel Arteta will do everything in the next year to change his defender’s mind, it is comforting to see that lessons have seemingly been learnt. We cannot force the Frenchman to sign a new deal, and there is a growing concern that he could be the latest target of the Spanish giants’ evolving recruitment model.
It is strongly believed that players like Kylian Mbappe and Trent Alexander-Arnold were convinced off the record to run down their contracts with the promise of a move to the Bernabeu as free agents. Saliba has always seemed the most likely of our young talents to have his head turned, and if that happens, there is very little we can do.
I have often compared this current Arsenal squad to the one Mr Wenger built with young stars like Fabregas, Nasri and Van Persie. My fear is the same as it was then: our young talent could grow tired of waiting for potential to be fulfilled.
Back then, Fabregas was held longer than he wanted, and Van Persie was handed the captaincy as thanks for staying one more year. Ultimately, the club allowed contracts to run down due to fear of a PR backlash if another marquee name left the Emirates. That led to us overpaying Mesut Ozil and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to stay in North London.
A big club insists that no one man is bigger than the badge.
Our manager should sit with the owners and decide what salary they believe Saliba is worth. If it is rejected, we do not beg, panic, or feel sorry for ourselves. We plan for the future.
Mosquera might be ready sooner than expected
Mosquera can play in a back four or three, on either side of the defence, and carries a strong reputation in Spain. Who is to say the 21-year-old will not be knocking on the first team door by the time Saliba (if he does) asks to leave?
Some Gooners have misunderstood this viewpoint as defeatist, asking how losing top talent helps win trophies. Nobody wants Saliba to go, but given where he is in his contract, Arsenal must prepare for the possibility that he might not be in London much longer.
While some mock Real Madrid as a ‘cemetery of talents’, the irony is that youngsters often achieve more success there than they do with us. It is easy to understand why Los Blancos are hard to say no to.
This is why I warned the Kroenke family that you cannot stand still in this sport and let moments pass you by. Saliba will have listened to his manager say in January that our attack needed help. He then watched as no reinforcements arrived. He will also be aware of how long it has taken to finalise the signing of Viktor Gyökeres.
As a defender in a role where most peak after the age of 30, Saliba is in no rush. But come 2027, could anyone blame him if he felt he had a better shot at silverware in La Liga?
Almost from the moment he pulled on the red and white, you could see Saliba was destined for the highest level. He should not have to settle for second place or excuses.
His employers might hesitate or fail to act decisively, but Saliba is too good to wait around.
Any big club can lose a star. It is how you respond that defines you.
Your opinions welcome in the comments.
Dan Smith
__________________________________________________________________________________________
ADMIN COMMENT
So here are some simple rules which I must insist commenters follow….
You agree not to give any personal abuse to other Arsenal fans. Everyone is allowed to hold their own opinions even if you disagree with them. It COSTS NOTHING TO BE POLITE TO OTHER ARSENAL FANS.
CALLING ALL ARSENAL FANS! Anyone who would like to contribute an Article or Video opinion piece on JustArsenal, please contact us through this link…
The post Opinion: Is Cristhian Mosquera Being Eyed as Saliba’s Long-Term Replacement? appeared first on Just Arsenal News.
