Arsenal defender closing in on return after five games out

Credit: Getty Images

Cristhian Mosquera made the trip to the Amex Stadium with Arsenal on Saturday despite not being named in the matchday squad for the Premier League meeting with Brighton — and the signs point to a return that is not far away.

The defender has been sidelined since he was forced off in the 1-0 win over Aston Villa last month, a muscle problem that has now kept him out of Arsenal's last five matches in all competitions.

He arrived on the south coast in his tracksuit alongside his team-mates and watched the warm-ups from the touchline, the role usually taken by the extra man in the travelling party.

Three weeks to get right

According to the Evening Standard's Matt Verri, reporting from the Amex, Mosquera is believed to be closing in on a return from the muscle injury, with his presence at the ground suggesting he will be in contention when Arsenal are next in action.

The timing works in the Spaniard's favour. Arsenal now face a three-week wait for their next fixture because of the extended international break, giving Mosquera a clear runway to complete his recovery before the Gunners host Leeds at the Emirates on October 10.

Defensive numbers stretched at Brighton

Mosquera's absence has been felt, particularly on the right side of the back four. Ben White also missed the Brighton game with a groin injury, which meant Jurrien Timber was handed his first start since mid-March.

That left Arsenal with just one recognised defender on the bench in Piero Hincapie, although Mikel Arteta does have cover elsewhere in the squad. Myles Lewis-Skelly can step in at left-back, while Martin Zubimendi was deployed at right-back in midweek against Ipswich in the Carabao Cup — an indication of how far Arteta has had to reach for solutions in recent weeks.

Getting Mosquera back would restore some much-needed depth to a defensive unit that has been asked to stretch itself across three competitions. His versatility across the back line makes him a useful option for a manager currently juggling limited numbers.

With the international break now upon them, Arsenal's medical staff have a valuable window to get bodies back on the grass. Mosquera's trip to the Amex, even in a tracksuit, was the clearest indication yet that he is nearly there.