Arsenal defender Cristhivan Mosquera is a major doubt for the Champions League opener against Napoli after missing the squad's final training session. The Colombian centre-back was absent from Tuesday's workout at the Sobha Realty Training Centre, as reported by Yahoo Sports, just days after sitting out the Premier League win over Chelsea.
Mosquera suffered a muscular problem during the victory at Aston Villa and was subsequently ruled out of Sunday's 2-1 triumph against Chelsea. Manager Mikel Arteta provided an update after that match, but the latest development suggests the issue is more significant. "He had a muscular issue," Arteta said. "We think it's not too much but we need to wait and see in the next few days how it evolves." His absence from the session before the squad travelled to Italy makes his participation in Wednesday's match at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium highly unlikely.
What does this mean for Arsenal's defence?
The potential loss of Mosquera compounds an existing issue in central defence for Arsenal. The club's verified injury list, which you can view on our injuries page, already includes William Saliba alongside Mosquera. This leaves Arteta with limited options at the back for a crucial European away fixture. The situation tests the squad's depth early in a season where Arsenal have started strongly, sitting 2nd in the Premier League with a perfect record of three wins from three games.
Despite the defensive concerns, there was a positive sight in training as Jurrien Timber took part in the session. The Dutch full-back is continuing his long recovery process and his involvement is a step forward, though he is not expected to be in contention for the Napoli match. Arsenal's solid start has been built on a strong defence, conceding just one goal in their opening three league matches while scoring six.
How does this affect Arsenal's Champions League plans?
Facing Napoli in their Group Stage opener is a demanding task, and Arteta will have to recalibrate his defensive plans without a key player. Mosquera's physical presence and comfort in possession have been important in Arsenal's build-up play. His probable absence means another defender will need to step into a high-pressure European atmosphere in Naples. The team's current form provides confidence, but navigating this injury setback will be an immediate challenge in the competition.
Arsenal's next domestic assignment is a trip to face Sunderland on September 12th. You can see the full schedule on our fixtures page. Balancing squad management across competitions is now a more pressing concern for the coaching staff.
Where does Arsenal's squad stand now?
The early-season injury issues highlight the importance of squad rotation and the need for every player to be ready. Arsenal's current squad depth is being examined earlier than anticipated. While the team enjoys a perfect league position with nine points and a +5 goal difference, maintaining that momentum requires adapting to setbacks like Mosquera's injury. The focus now shifts to who will partner Gabriel Magalhães in the heart of defence on Wednesday night in Italy.
Arsenal's Champions League campaign begins away to Napoli on Wednesday, September 9th.
