Cristhian Mosquera Arsenal debut date suggested as Gunners signing 'flies out' to Singapore for pre-season tour

Arsenal-bound Cristhian Mosquera is on his way to Singapore to link up with Mikel Arteta's squad as he prepares to complete his transfer from Valencia, it has been reported.

On Tuesday morning, a video began doing the rounds on social media of Mosquera apparently waiting to board a flight at Heathrow Airport, and The Athletic now claims that the 21-year-old is bound for the Far East.

Mosquera's move from Valencia has not yet been officially announced by either club, but images were leaked of him doing his Arsenal interview shortly after the Noni Madueke signing was confirmed by the Gunners.

Medical issues supposedly held up Mosquera's arrival, but confirmation of his transfer is now seemingly imminent, and Arsenal expert Charles Watts is hopeful that the Spaniard could make his first appearance against Newcastle United this weekend.

“Really good news," Watts told Sports Mole. "We've been waiting for the announcement for a long, long time now. The leaked photos of him doing the interview just added to the frustration, like why is he not being announced yet?

Mosquera to make Arsenal debut against Newcastle?

“I was told that it was just a few bits of paperwork still to be finalised. There was no one who was concerned. And obviously there was a brief video doing the rounds today of someone at Heathrow videoing what looked like Mosquera waiting for a plane. And it's like, is that actually him?

“I couldn't see any club staff with him. Are they really sending him around the world on his own without any club staff? I was a little bit suspicious about it, but it has now been confirmed that he has been given the green light to fly out. And he's flying out today to join up with the rest of the squad in Singapore.

“It's great. It's a really good signing, exciting signing. And it's great to get him out there as quickly as possible. Tomorrow's game might be a bit too soon for him, but you would expect we'll certainly see him in the game against Newcastle, which is great. And Mikel Arteta will be delighted.”

Mosquera is set to become Arsenal's fifth signing of the summer window after Kepa Arrizabalaga, Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard and Madueke, and the Spain Under-21 international arrives with a tremendous fitness record.

Mosquera is yet to miss a senior game through injury; he only sat out one La Liga match through suspension last season, and in his absence, Los Che went down 7-1 to champions Barcelona.

Watts comments on alleged Mosquera Arsenal medical issues

It was alleged that there were some unspecified problems with the 21-year-old's medical, which could not be disclosed due to confidentiality reasons, but there was no fear from either Arsenal or the player's side that the deal was in jeopardy.

While an injury-free player hurting himself before his first appearance for the Gunners would be classic Arsenal according to Watts, he has stressed that he was not made aware of any fitness problem.

“I hadn't heard that," he added. "I'd heard the rumours about it, but I've never had it confirmed. So it'd be impossible for me to confirm it or not. When I was asked about it, I was just told there were a couple of bits of paperwork that still needed to be finalised. But I might have been told that because no one could disclose the medical stuff.

“So I couldn't rule it out, but it's just not what I'd heard. It'd be very typical of Arsenal to sign a player who's started 70 of the last 72 games, played more minutes than any other Under-21 player in the top five leagues by a mile over the last two seasons, then for him to get injured just as he arrives! It'd be very, very Arsenal-like. But I hadn't heard that myself.”

Mosquera will likely land in Singapore before Arsenal face AC Milan on Wednesday, but the friendly with the Rossoneri will almost certainly come too soon for the versatile defender to make his first appearance in red and white.

> Click here to listen to the full discussion on Mosquera's journey to Singapore

Written by
Ben Knapton