Arsenal defender expected to miss six weeks as the team is left with only one fit centre-back

The 2025/26 season has only passed the one-third mark, yet Arsenal’s squad has already been hit hard by injuries. The most affected position is centre-back, as both Gabriel and Saliba have already been ruled out, forcing Arteta to rely on youngsters Mosquera and Hincapié. Now, Mosquera has suffered an ankle injury just 41 minutes into the match against Brentford, making the situation even worse. According to The Athletic, Mosquera could be sidelined for up to six weeks - at least until the second week of January 2026.

Before the match against Aston Villa on Saturday, Arteta provided an update on the squad’s fitness: “Let’s see (on Rice). We have another training session this afternoon. Every hour is going to be important. Mosquera (ankle) is the one that is more complicated. We have another test today. (William) Saliba and (Leandro) Trossard are a matter of days.” Based on his comments, William Saliba will not feature against Aston Villa, while Gabriel may be out for a few more months.

Therefore, Arsenal’s only available pairing for the Aston Villa match is Hincapié and Timber. Last week, the duo performed well - keeping a clean sheet and helping Arsenal beat Brentford 2–0 to remain top of the Premier League table. However, the partnership may cause some concern against teams strong in the air, as both players are under 185 cm.

After facing Aston Villa, Arsenal will enter a relatively light run of fixtures. They will play Club Brugge in the Champions League, followed by Wolves and Everton in the Premier League, Crystal Palace in the EFL Cup, then Brighton and Aston Villa again to close out 2025. If they maintain their current form, Arsenal could remain top of the Premier League heading into the New Year. In a worst-case scenario, the club may alter their January transfer plans to address the centre-back shortage.

Mosquera has been an intriguing signing for Arsenal, joining from Valencia for €15 million. Since arriving, he has made 16 appearances and has been a key part of Arsenal’s strong defensive record in both the Premier League and the Champions League. So far, Arsenal have lost only one match - against Liverpool - and have conceded just eight goals across both competitions, making them one of the favourites for the title on all fronts.