Joe Hart believes Arsenal have found their own version of Manchester City defender Manuel Akanji.
The Gunners’ recruitment has closely mirrored City’s in recent years, signing a number of players who are loosely analogous to those in Pep Guardiola’s squad.
The Citizens signed Akanji for just £15 million in 2022, and the Swiss has gone on to make 136 appearances for the north-west club, winning two Premier League titles and the Champions League.
Mikel Arteta would be delighted if his own player, who Hart believes compares to Akanji, is able to replicate what the Swiss did in a City shirt, before he left on loan for Inter Milan in the summer.
Joe Hart says Cristhian Mosquera is similar to Manuel Akanji
Arsenal landed Cristhian Mosquera for just £13 million this summer.
Expected to merely be a squad player who fills in for William Saliba in case of emergency, the Spaniard has already proven to be much more than that.
Mosquera has been outstanding in his outings thus far, and many have already dubbed him one of the bargain signings of the summer.
Speaking on TNT Sports’ show, the Breakdown, former City goalkeeper Joe Hart claimed that the 21-year-old is Arsenal’s version of the Akanji signing.
“Mosquera is an absolute physical beast. They got him for 10 mill,” Owen Hargreaves said.
“He’s been brilliant. That’s an Akanji signing, isn’t it?” Hart replied.
Are Manuel Akanji and Cristhian Mosquera actually similar?
Akanji and Mosquera are certainly similar in that they both joined their respective clubs for minimal fees and can operate across the back-line.
Both capable of playing at right-back as well as centre-back, it’s an easy comparison to make.
However, there are some key differences. While both players are physically imposing and can use their physical tools to play aggressively, Mosquera is already much more accomplished in possession than Akanji ever has been.
The former Borussia Dortmund man has generally been somewhat limited on the ball throughout his career, while the ex-Valencia youngster is exceptionally composed and able to break lines with his passing.
The other glaring difference is the age profiles. Akanji joined City at the age of 27, whereas Mosquera completed his switch to Arsenal at 21.
This is partly why the Switzerland international was so cheap. Three years later, and his City career already appears to be effectively over, while the Gunners could have Mosquera for another ten years and he has the potential to develop into something special.
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