Arsenal s magical operation, Arteta is in the next big game

When everyone thought Arsenal would spend 50 million pounds to chase England international Mark Guy or new Real Madrid player Dean Huyson, Arteta signed the unknown young central defender from Valencia - Christian Moscrat from Valencia with a seemingly "sloppy" £13 million.

Is this a helpless move with insufficient budget, or a smart and far-scheming layout? The answer is precisely the latter.

The summer transfer window has opened, and Arsenal's goal is clear and urgent: to find a high-quality third central defender for the main players of Saliba and Gabriel. Whether it is Huyson's 50 million pound termination fee or Crystal Palace's price of more than 55 million for Guy, it shows that the Gunners are willing to spend a lot of money on this.

However, money does not solve all problems. The real obstacle is: famous stars like Guy and Huyson are eager to get an absolute main position. But at Arsenal, the combination of Saliba and Gabriel is as solid as a rock, and anyone who comes will have to sit on the bench first. Will an English international who is in his first year of playing be willing to be the third choice? The answer is obvious.

It is in this embarrassing situation of "not being able to achieve success" that Arteta showed his vision as a strategist. He no longer focused on fighting power immediately, but turned his attention to the future - a young man with great potential, low value, willing to accept substitute roles, and patiently learn and grow up.

So Mosquera entered his sight.

Don't look at him who only spent 13 million pounds, this 21-year-old young man is a "little demon" with amazing data. In the past two seasons, he has played nearly 6,400 minutes in Valencia, making him the player with the most playing time among the five major European leagues. Not only can he play left and right central defenders, his 1.91-meter height and excellent speed also allow him to perfectly integrate into Arsenal's defensive system. In terms of style, Mosquera and Saliba are very similar - both have lightning speed and prediction abilities, are good at one-on-one defense, and are a powerful tool to curb opponents' counterattack. Of course, he is not a perfect piece of jade. His heading ability is a clear shortcoming and takes time to polish and improve.

But that's the essence of this deal. Arsenal knew very well that what they bought was not a finished product, but a piece of rough jade worth carving. Under the guidance of Arteta and the coaching staff, Mosquera has plenty of time to make up for the shortcomings and grow into a true top central defender.

From the team building, this signing is a masterpiece. The injury of Saliba and Gabriel had sounded the alarm last season, and the arrival of Moscrat greatly enhanced the team's defensive depth. He is not only a "insurance plug" to deal with injuries and suspensions, but also a healthy competition and stimulation for the main central defenders.

Give up a expensive transaction of 55 million and instead use 13 million to make a smart investment with low risk, high returns. Arsenal's operation not only saved a lot of money, but also obtained a cornerstone of the defense line that could be expected in the future. This is not just a simple signing, but also an important piece set by Arteta for the Gunners' future dynasty.