As Arsenal finalize the signing of highly-rated Cristhian Mosquera from Valencia, our attention now turns to how the 20-year-old centre-back compares to Barcelona’s breakout sensation, Pau Cubarsí, based on their performances in the 2024/25 La Liga season.

Mosquera, who is set to join Arsenal after the Gunners indicated they would trigger his £17 million release clause, will arrive as a physically imposing defender standing at 1.91 metres. In contrast, 18-year-old Pau Cubarsí, valued at an estimated €80 million according to Transfermarkt, stands at 1.84 metres and is already considered one of Europe’s top young defenders.

Both players featured as starting centre-backs in La Liga, but the key question is: Did Cristhian Mosquera statistically match or outperform Barcelona’s prized talent Cubarsí in 2024/25?

Are Arsenal securing a defender who can grow to reach—or even surpass—the level of Cubarsí?

Availability to Help the Team

Game Time and Involvement in the 2024/25 La Liga Season

Games Played

• Cristhian Mosquera (Valencia) – 37 appearances
• Pau Cubarsí (Barcelona) – 35 appearances

Minutes Played

• Mosquera – 3,320 minutes
• Cubarsí – 2,620 minutes

Cristhian Mosquera proved to be more consistently available throughout the 2024/25 La Liga season, clocking more game time and featuring in more matches than Barcelona’s Pau Cubarsí.

His high number of appearances highlights his reliability, physical resilience, and importance to Valencia’s backline—a promising trait for Arsenal fans who feel frustrated by the injuries that have rocked Takehiro Tomiyasu in the last few seasons.

Total Touches

• Mosquera – 2,431 touches
• Cubarsí – 2,834 touches

While Mosquera had more minutes last season, Pau Cubarsí edged ahead in total touches, indicating a deeper involvement in Barcelona’s build-up play.

As a ball-playing defender, Cubarsí’s ability to influence play from the back was more stood out.

Attacking Contribution

Scoring and Creating Goal-Scoring Opportunities

Goals Scored

• Cristhian Mosquera (Valencia) – 1
• Pau Cubarsí (Barcelona) – 0

Assists Provided

• Mosquera – 0
• Cubarsí – 3

When it comes to direct goal involvement, Cristhian Mosquera edges out his Barcelona counterpart in goals, having scored once during the 2024/25 La Liga season.

However, Pau Cubarsí clearly outshines Mosquera in playmaking and goal-creation, having provided 3 assists while Mosquera had none .

Chances Created

• Mosquera – 0
• Cubarsí – 8

Through Balls Played

• Mosquera – 0
• Cubarsí – 4

Cubarsí demonstrated far more attacking flair, creating eight times more chances than Mosquera and playing four successful through balls, showing his confidence and vision in pushing forward and unlocking defenses.

Stats show Mosquera as more of a defensively-focused centre-back, while Cubarsí’s stats reflect a defender with greater freedom to initiate attacks and contribute creatively in the final third.

Cubarsí’s profile shows he is more active in ball distribution and chance creation

Who Is More Likely to Advance the Ball Forward?

Forward Passes

• Cristhian Mosquera (Valencia) – 690
• Pau Cubarsí (Barcelona) – 817

Backward Passes

• Mosquera – 124
• Cubarsí – 100

Sideways Passes

• Mosquera – 1,183
• Cubarsí – 1,674

Out of the 1,822 passes Cristhian Mosquera completed in La Liga for Valencia last season, 37.87% were forward, 6.81% were backward, and 64.93% were sideways. In comparison, Pau Cubarsí completed 2,426 passes for Barcelona, with 33.68% going forward, 4.12% backward, and 69% sideways.

Statistically, this shows that Mosquera is slightly more likely to play forward passes than Cubarsí. However, Mosquera also records a higher tendency for backward passes, indicating a greater reliance on recycling possession through the goalkeeper or defensive line.

Cubarsí, meanwhile, is more inclined to distribute the ball laterally, especially toward the wingers or wingbacks, rather than playing it back to the goalkeeper.

Mosquera’s tendency to opt for back passes more frequently could potentially put the goalkeeper under unnecessary pressure in high-press scenarios

Cubarsí appears more risk-averse, preferring safer sideways options, while Mosquera demonstrates a slightly more aggressive forward-passing instinct but also a higher backward-passing rate.

Passing

Overall Passing Accuracy

Passes Attempted

• Cristhian Mosquera (Valencia) – 1,997
• Pau Cubarsí (Barcelona) – 2,591

Passes Completed

• Mosquera – 1,822
• Cubarsí – 2,426

Passing Accuracy

• Mosquera – 91.24%
• Cubarsí – 93.63%

Pau Cubarsí not only attempted more passes than Cristhian Mosquera during the 2024/25 La Liga season, but he also completed them with a higher success rate.

The 2.39% edge in passing accuracy suggests that Cubarsí may possess superior focus and consistency in tight spaces—an essential quality for any ball-playing defender.

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Long-Range Passing Ability

Long Passes Attempted

• Mosquera – 129
• Cubarsí – 156

Long Passes Completed

• Mosquera – 73
• Cubarsí – 93

Long Pass Accuracy

• Mosquera – 56.59%
• Cubarsí – 59.62%

Cubarsí again leads the way in long-range distribution, attempting and completing more long balls with better accuracy than Mosquera.

While the percentage difference may seem marginal, these numbers highlight Cubarsí’s confidence in switching play and launching attacks from deep—a trait that becomes crucial when a defender needs to escape an opponent’s press.

As Cristhian Mosquera prepares to join Arsenal, it’s worth recalling Mikel Arteta’s admiration for long-passing defenders, particularly those like Virgil van Dijk, who can instantly turn defense into attack. Arteta once remarked:

“When you get past the Liverpool press, you then hit Van Dijk. He then hits a 60-yard pass to Mo Salah, and they are out of the press. That is quality.”

So, how does Mosquera’s long-range passing compare to elite defenders like Van Dijk and Arsenal’s William Saliba?
👉 Check out the full comparison here

Team Defensive Stats

Clean Sheets and Goals Conceded (Team)

Clean Sheets

• Cristhian Mosquera (Valencia) – 8
• Pau Cubarsí (Barcelona) – 5

Goals Conceded (Team)

• Valencia – 47
• Barcelona – 32

From a team perspective, Valencia recorded more clean sheets than Barcelona, keeping three more opponents from scoring—a testament to their defensive structure and Mosquera’s vital presence in the backline.

However, Barcelona had the better defensive structure, conceding fewer goals overall. This highlights their more compact and efficient setup when it comes to limiting scoring opportunities.

Let’s now break down the individual defensive statistics to see how Cristhian Mosquera and Pau Cubarsí performed in their respective systems.

Individual Defensive Stats

Take-Ons Completed and Success Rate

Take-Ons Completed

• Cristhian Mosquera (Valencia) – 5
• Pau Cubarsí (Barcelona) – 6

Take-On Success Rate

• Mosquera – 55.56%
• Cubarsí – 75%

Although Pau Cubarsí completed one more take-on than Cristhian Mosquera, the standout difference lies in their success rate. Cubarsí boasts a 75% success rate, nearly 20% higher than Mosquera’s 55.56%, showcasing greater composure and effectiveness in 1v1 defensive situations.

Tackles

Tackles Made

• Mosquera – 56
• Cubarsí – 34

It’s important to consider team context: playing for Valencia, a side that often defends deeper and absorbs more pressure, likely required Mosquera to engage in more tackles. This is reflected in the numbers—Mosquera made 22 more tackles than Cubarsí over the season.

Meanwhile, Barcelona’s possession-heavy and attack-oriented style naturally reduces the frequency with which their defenders must tackle.

Nonetheless, the numbers show that Mosquera made more tackles than Cubarsí last season, suggesting he may be better in this particular metric

Total Duels

Duels Contested

• Cristhian Mosquera (Valencia) – 215
• Pau Cubarsí (Barcelona) – 193

Duels Won

• Mosquera – 128
• Cubarsí – 111

Duel Win Percentage

• Mosquera – 59.53%
• Cubarsí – 57.51%

In overall duels, Cristhian Mosquera emerges as the clear winner, having both contested and won more duels than Pau Cubarsí during the 2024/25 La Liga season. His slightly higher duel success rate may suggest he is more effective in one-on-one defensive battles.

But how do these two promising centre-backs compare when the duels are broken down into aerial and ground-level challenges specifically?

Ground Duels

Ground Duels Contested

• Cristhian Mosquera (Valencia) – 122
• Pau Cubarsí (Barcelona) – 85

Ground Duels Won

• Mosquera – 86
• Cubarsí – 48

Ground Duel Success Rate

• Mosquera – 70.49%
• Cubarsí – 56.47%

Cristhian Mosquera not only engaged in more ground duels but also registered a much higher success rate than Pau Cubarsí—a 14.02% advantage in ground duel efficiency. This showcases Mosquera’s superior ability in 1v1 defensive confrontations on the ground.

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Aerial Duels

Aerial Duels Contested

• Mosquera – 93
• Cubarsí – 108

Aerial Duels Won

• Mosquera – 42
• Cubarsí – 63

Aerial Duel Success Rate

• Mosquera – 45.16%
• Cubarsí – 58.33%

However, the tables turn when it comes to aerial battles. Pau Cubarsí was clearly more dominant in the air, contesting more aerial duels and winning a significantly higher percentage than Mosquera. This is despite Pau Cubarsí being 7 centimetres shorter than Mosquera

Clearances and Interceptions

Clearances

• Cristhian Mosquera (Valencia) – 123
• Pau Cubarsí (Barcelona) – 86

Interceptions

• Mosquera – 35
• Cubarsí – 16

Cristhian Mosquera was the more dominant defender in terms of clearances and interceptions, recording 37 more clearances and more than double the number of interceptions compared to Pau Cubarsí.

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Recoveries

Ball Recoveries

• Mosquera – 190
• Cubarsí – 102

Mosquera also led in ball recoveries, regaining possession for Valencia nearly twice as often as Cubarsí did for Barcelona.

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Blocks

Blocked Shots

• Mosquera – 24
• Cubarsí – 9

When it came to blocking shots, Mosquera recorded nearly three times as many blocks as Cubarsí. His willingness to put his body on the line reinforces the profile of a defender who thrives in last-ditch situations.

Discipline and Errors

Clean tackling

Fouls from Tackle Attempts

• Cristhian Mosquera (Valencia) – 8
• Pau Cubarsí (Barcelona) – 9

Cristhian Mosquera committed fewer fouls from tackles than Pau Cubarsí, suggesting he is more capable of winning possession cleanly without bringing down his opponent. This is a valuable trait in high-stakes situations, where giving away unnecessary fouls can shift momentum or give away free-kicks in dangerous areas.

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Giving away penalties

Penalty Goals Conceded

• Mosquera – 6
• Cubarsí – 4

However, Mosquera appears to be more prone to conceding penalties, having given away two more spot-kicks than Cubarsí. While the difference is small, it highlights a potential area for improvement in terms of decision-making and timing in the box, which are vital qualities in top central defenders.

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Red and Yellow cards

Total Cards (Yellow + Red)

• Mosquera – 6
• Cubarsí – 3

Mosquera also received twice as many cards as Cubarsí, indicating a greater likelihood of disciplinary action.

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Body posture

Handballs

• Mosquera – 1
• Cubarsí – 0

Cubarsí committed no handball offenses, which may reflect his superior body positioning and composure when defending under pressure. It suggests a more refined awareness of space and technique in defensive situations. Spatial awareness and proper body posture help ensure the hands stay out of the ball’s path

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Giving away possession

Possession Lost

• Mosquera – 228
• Cubarsí – 180

This statistic may raise concern for Arsenal fans: Mosquera lost possession 48 more times than Cubarsí last season.

Losing the ball in defensive zones can quickly lead to dangerous goal-scoring opportunities for the opposition—especially since defenders often operate closest to their own goal.

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Caught in possession

Times Tackled While in Possession

• Mosquera – 14
• Cubarsí – 3

Mosquera was tackled significantly more often than Cubarsí, suggesting he is more susceptible to being caught in possession. This could indicate moments of hesitation or slow decision-making, giving opponents a chance to close him down and regain control.

Conclusion

Overall, Barcelona’s defensive unit outperformed Valencia’s, conceding fewer goals throughout the 2024/25 La Liga season. However, this doesn’t diminish the potential of Cristhian Mosquera.

His individual defensive metrics are impressive considering the weaker overall structure of Valencia, where defenders are exposed more often.

Cubarsí excels in ball progression, long-range passing, and aerial dominance, Mosquera stands out for his defensive resilience, physical presence, and ground duel mastery.

Mosquera made more tackles, won more ground duels, produced significantly more clearances, interceptions, ball recoveries, and blocked shots — all while being available for more minutes and matches than his Barcelona counterpart.

With a move to Arsenal—a side known for tactical discipline, high pressing, and defensive support—Mosquera’s stats could improve significantly. Surrounded by top-tier talent and a more organized system, he has the potential to reach the next level in his development.