Arsenal news: £13m man causing immediate stir while Mikel Arteta faces familiar problem

Arsenal recorded a 2-0 away win over Athletic Bilbao in the Champions League on Tuesday and Mikel Arteta’s are side now preparing to host Manchester City at the weekend

Arsenal are still fresh from their 2-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao after the Gunners got their Champions League campaign off to a winning start. There is little time for manager Mikel Arteta to dwell on the result, though, as Arsenal prepare to face Manchester City on Sunday.

The Gunners required late goals from substitutes Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard to earn three points in Bilbao on Tuesday night. While the game proved tougher than some fans may have anticipated, it was also the latest evidence of Arsenal’s renewed squad depth.

The attacking options at Arteta’s disposal present the manager with some difficult decisions, particularly in midfield, ahead of facing City at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday. One of Arsenal’s new signings was singled out for praise by a team-mate for his display at San Mames, while a club icon questioned one of Arteta’s tactical decisions during the game.

Arsenal star gives Cristhian Mosquera verdict

Cristhian Mosquera produced an assured performance on his Champions League debut after being entrusted to deputise for the recovering William Saliba at the heart of Arsenal’s defence. The 21-year-old, who was signed for £13million from Valencia this summer, slotted in seamlessly alongside Gabriel Magalhaes for the second consecutive game and full-back Jurrien Timber commended Mosquera for his start to life with the Gunners.

“He does amazing,” the Dutchman told TNT Sports after the win over Athletic. “Still so young, the way he comes in, it looks so easy for him, winning his duels and on the ball as well.

READ MORE: Bukayo Saka’s message to Arsenal after Champions League win as he battles injury blowREAD MORE: Eberechi Eze ripped apart as Arsenal team-mate ‘did more in five minutes’

“It is great to have him next to me, and I think he has a bright future ahead as well.”

Timber was not the only player to praise Mosquera’s performance, with former Arsenal star Martin Keown adding: “This fella, mobile, quick, strong, there’s a lot more to come. He’s put in some really good performances.”

Mikel Arteta’s dilemma for Manchester City clash

Arsenal struggled to realise their attacking potential against Athletic, with Arteta’s substitutes proving to be the difference makers. The team’s early issues in Spain have led the Gunners’ midfield to come under scrutiny.

Arteta deployed Martin Zubimendi behind Declan Rice and Mikel Merino in the club’s Champions League opener. The same midfield started Arsenal’s away defeat to Liverpool, where the team were accused of lacking attacking intent.

Sky Sports has detailed that Rice and Merino have won one of the nine Premier League games they have started together in midfield, with a 4-0 triumph at Ipswich being the outlier. As Martin Odegaard is a doubt to return from his shoulder injury in time to face City, Arteta faces a choice of whether to stick with his recent trio or opt for a more attacking option.

Ethan Nwaneri replaced Odegarrd after just 18 minutes in last week’s win over Forest, but the teenager remained on the bench against Athletic. Meanwhile, Eberechi Eze previously thrived in a number 10 role at Crystal Palace and a potential shift from out wide could present one of Arsenal’s other attacking talents with an opportunity to step up against City, as Bukayo Saka is sidelined with a hamstring problem.

Viktor Gyokeres decision questioned

Despite Arsenal celebrating their hard-fought win over Athletic, one of Arteta’s decisions was questioned during the game. The concern came from former Arsenal icon Perry Groves after striker Viktor Gyokeres, who suffered a cut to the back of his head in the second half, was replaced by Leandro Trossard in the 65th minute with the game still goalless.

“It’s just strange, I don’t know, Mikel Arteta has obviously got his reasons,” Groves said on commentary for talkSPORT during the game. “But you’ve got your centre-forward on the pitch who has been a threat in behind all game.

“He’s holding the ball up, Arsenal are starting to exert a little bit of pressure. If you’re a centre-forward, if you’re Gyokeres, you’d be devastated coming off.

“Because you’d be thinking, ‘My team’s actually exerted a bit of pressure, we’re bound to create a few more chances from now until the end of the game.’ And Gyokeres is the one that you’d want on the end of them.”

However, Arteta’s decision paid off. Martinelli opened the scoring less than a minute after coming on for Eze, while Trossard rounded off the result with his deflected effort a few minutes before the final whistle.

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