Arteta Calms Concerns Over Mosquera After Arsenal's Narrow Win

Mikel Arteta moved quickly to calm any nerves around Cristhian Mosquera after Arsenal’s narrow 1-0 win at Aston Villa, insisting the young defender is “fine” despite being forced off at Villa Park.

Mosquera, 22, was withdrawn in the second half of a rugged contest, prompting the introduction of new signing Ezri Konsa, who walked into a wall of noise and jeers on his first appearance back at his former home ground.

Arteta admitted he was in no mood to gamble.

“We knew that if we had an injury on the back line with Jurrien (Timber) out, we'd be in big trouble – so we had to do Ezri,” he said after the final whistle, with Bukayo Saka’s second-half strike having already banked a second win from two in the Premier League for the champions.

“Mosquera could not continue, so we know the depth has to be really big when we're fighting for four competitions in the manner that we play as well.

“He's fine, but he was feeling like he was about to have something, and that's why we have the bench that we have, and that's why we had to bring Ezri in.

“Ezri makes a debut in really difficult circumstances; it's not easy emotionally to come here and play. But he looks so composed, so calm, so in control.”

Champions win ugly – and don’t mind one bit

This was no flowing exhibition. Arsenal needed just one shot on target, shortly before the hour, to settle it. They absorbed, they scrapped, they cleared their lines. Then they left with the points.

For Riccardo Calafiori, who supplied the assist for Saka’s winner and now has two in the campaign, the manner of the performance mattered far less than the outcome.

“I'm so happy with the clean sheet, especially when I talk with the guys – the defenders – I always say that if we don't concede, we obviously have much more chance to win the game, and I think we always do so well,” the full-back said.

“At the end of the game, it's so important for us, especially at a tough place like this one, we just want to win when we come here and we did it.”

Arsenal’s defensive edge has sharpened since a leaky pre-season, and Calafiori was honest about that shift.

“In pre-season we were upset, I think we conceded too much, but then as the season started, we have all the players back.

“We fight, and you see how we do mistakes sometimes, but how we track back with the runs, it's unbelievable, and each player, even the attackers, so I'm so happy.”

Then came his moment in the final third. A precise ball, a ruthless finish, and the game tilted Arsenal’s way.

“I'm just so happy to pass the ball to B [Saka],” the Italy international added. “As I say, it was a tough, tough game, we need these kind of moments, you know, to change the game – and we did it.”

Two games, two wins, one statement: even when it hurts, this Arsenal side know how to get it done.