This week, Cristhian Mosquera sat down for an exclusive interview with Arsenal's official media, discussing his adaptation to life at the club and sharing his thoughts on the coaching staff and players such as Gabriel.
How have you found your time at Arsenal?
I'm absolutely delighted to be here. The people have made it incredibly easy for me to settle in, and I'm genuinely thrilled. The first few months have been fantastic. To be honest, I never imagined adapting so quickly and feeling this happy!
What have been your standout moments so far?
For me, the match against Liverpool was a highlight – I'd say that's one of them – but every moment has been important thus far. Ultimately, you have to savour every moment.
At a club like Arsenal, any player in the world would want to play for a club like this, so I think you have to express yourself and enjoy every moment you have at the club.
Who has helped you settle into the team so far? Has having many Spanish speakers been helpful?
Yes, it has been a great help. Having spent my entire life in Spain, having many Spanish speakers around has certainly been beneficial. But as many other teammates have said, it's not just the Spanish speakers who help you settle in – it's the entire dressing room.
There's an incredible group of people here. I believe they all contribute to making new players feel welcome, happy and adapt quickly. The team genuinely has that atmosphere, and everyone around the squad is helping us too.
You made your home debut against Leeds in August. Tell us about that moment – were your family there?
Yes, they always come whenever they can. It was an incredible moment. Making my Premier League debut for Arsenal on our magnificent pitch – it was a dream come true! But for those opportunities and moments, I'll keep working hard. That's why I'm here, and I'll fight for those chances.
What did Mikel Arteta and the coaching staff say to you after the Leeds and Liverpool matches?
They were very pleased with me. They always try to give me their perspective on the game. I'm only 21, so I've got room to improve. The coaching staff here are excellent and they do their utmost to help me in every way. What I can say is that after those matches, they were very satisfied with me.
But as I said, ultimately, it doesn't stop here. There's still a long way to go. So they insist I keep working hard and maintain the status quo. That's what matters – sustaining the form I've shown so far.
You remained in the squad for the next two matches and played another two clean sheets. How does it feel playing alongside Gabriel?
Honestly, he's the bedrock of this team. He's an absolutely brilliant bloke. In fact, he's been right by my side from day one, helping me out. Plus, he speaks Spanish, which has been a massive help. He's always close by because he's walked the same path as me – arriving at a huge club when he was young.
He's had moments in his career where he's needed to adapt, so playing alongside him is a real pleasure for me. He's one of the best defenders in the world, and I'm delighted to be playing alongside him rather than against him! No question about it – he's a beast!
You're a very versatile defender. What do you consider your strongest attributes?
Well, I consider myself a fairly quick player – I possess pace. One of my characteristics in matches is focus; I remain concentrated at all times, which is crucial. Then there's agility; my build isn't particularly 'broad', if you will, which allows me to be nimble on the flanks as a defender.
You played in the EFL Cup against Port Vale. How was it experiencing that quintessential English atmosphere on such a compact pitch?
Yes, just as you say. But you know you have to go to grounds that are different from the Premier League. When you visit those places, you notice every club here has huge support, and every ground has a great atmosphere. So we treated it like a regular fixture, much like a league match.
That's how we approached it, and the result was excellent – that's why we won. It was a very English atmosphere, which surprised me. But honestly, in Spain, when you play at smaller grounds, it's a bit like that too. Those games are tough because those teams make it difficult for you.
Finally, what about life in London? Have you had time to explore it? What are your thoughts on the city, the food, and so on?
I haven't had much time, as we have matches every two or three days and require significant rest periods in between. We must focus on the essentials, which is what I strive to do. But I have managed to get a little taste of London, and it's an incredible city. I've been able to see it with my family, and they've thoroughly enjoyed it too.
I'm absolutely delighted with the change of coming here. Back in Spain, some people say the food isn't as good as there, but honestly, I'm very satisfied with the food here too – everything's been brilliant so far, so I'm genuinely chuffed and thoroughly enjoying life here