Baffling Arsenal line-up decision sparks Mikel Arteta questions over injury timeline

Cristhian Mosquera has returned to the Arsenal squad just four days after Mikel Arteta said he would be missing for a "few weeks"

Cristhian Mosquera has been included in the Arsenal squad for their Premier League clash with Nottingham Forest. The inclusion of the Spaniard comes as quite the surprise after comments made by Mikel Arteta just four days ago.

Asked ahead of the League Cup semi-final first leg clash with Chelsea on the status of two of the, or at least who were thought to be, longer term absences: Cristhian Mosquera and Max Dowman, Arteta claimed that it could be still some time yet before we would see them.

“[Max] is very similar to [Cristhian] Mosquera as well,” Arteta said, “Very similar injuries, very similar timeframes and both evolving really well. But they’re not training yet so they’re still a few weeks away.”

In November 2024, Arteta was asked about the importance of keeping team news secret. The Arsenal manager claimed he would never “lie” about team news if he knew.

He said: "I don't want to make it easy for anyone. The opponent has to make sure they do their homework - like I have to.

“When I know, I am not going to lie to you, I am not going to say, 'he's not fit' and then I play him - I would never do that. But, if I am certain or I don't want to tell you, I will keep you guessing.”

If this is accurate, it would have only emerged in the last couple of days that Mosquera was perhaps far further ahead of schedule than even the Arsenal manager realised.

The return of Mosquera is a welcome one considering both Riccardo Calafiori and Piero Hincapie are out injured too. William Saliba has been covered by Jurrien Timber earlier in the season when the Spanish defender was out, with Ben White covering at right-back.

Arsenal team vs Nottingham Forest: Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber, Zubimendi, Rice, Odegaard, Madueke, Martinelli, Gyokeres.

Subs: Arrizabalaga, Mosquera, Lewis-Skelly, Merino, Havertz, Eze, Saka, Trossard, Jesus.