The Athletic described Mosquera as a ‘passive’ defender when news of Arsenal’s interest broke. That does not mean he allows forwards to attack him and is caught on the back foot — instead, he is selective about when he will put a foot in to make a challenge.

Arsenal is set to finalise the signing of Cristhian Mosquera after the young defender turned down a contract renewal offer from Valencia. The move marks a significant step forward for both the player and the Premier League club, who have shown a keen interest in the Spaniard following his performances on the international stage.

Arsenal are closing in on the signings of Noni Madueke and Viktor Gyokeres as Mikel Arteta looks to bolster his squad ahead of the new season with two big deals in the pipeline