Cristhian Mosquera has been called up to the Spain senior squad for the first time, with fellow Arsenal players David Raya and Martin Zubimendi also included for this month’s friendlies against Serbia and Egypt.
Cristhian Mosquera has received his first senior Spain call-up after being named in Luis de la Fuente’s latest squad for the March international window. Spain face Serbia on March 27 and Egypt on March 30 in what will be their final camp before the 2026 World Cup, and Arsenal will have three players involved after Raya and Zubimendi were also selected.
First senior recognition for Mosquera
Mosquera is one of the standout new names in the squad, with reports in Spain identifying him among the first-time senior selections alongside several other fresh faces. That makes this a notable step in the 21-year-old’s rise, particularly in a national-team setup where competition for defensive places remains fierce.
From an Arsenal perspective, the call-up is another sign of how quickly Mosquera has progressed since arriving from Valencia last summer. While he has not been first choice in Arsenal’s central defensive pairing, he has still shown his value across the back line, stepping into the middle when rest for William Saliba and Gabriel have required it and filling in at full-back when needed.
Raya and Zubimendi strengthen Arsenal’s Spain contingent
The wider Arsenal angle is that Mosquera will not be reporting alone. Raya’s inclusion is no surprise given his standing as one of Spain’s senior goalkeeping options, while Zubimendi’s place reflects his established role in the national-team midfield. Zubimendi joined Arsenal from Real Sociedad last summer and arrived in north London as a Spain international with a major-tournament pedigree already behind him.
That gives Arsenal three representatives in the squad and adds more weight to the story than a single player's call-up would on its own. Mosquera is the new name, but Raya and Zubimendi bring senior-level continuity and underline how strong the club’s Spanish presence has become inside Arteta’s squad.
What it means before the World Cup
The timing matters too. These friendlies come after Spain’s planned Finalissima against Argentina was scrapped, which gives the games against Serbia and Egypt added weight as part of Luis de la Fuente’s final assessment process before the World Cup. For Mosquera, it offers a genuine chance to make an impression at senior level. For Raya and Zubimendi, it is another opportunity to strengthen their positions within Spain’s established core.
From Arsenal’s point of view, there will also be some hope that the international break allows at least a little breathing space after a demanding run of fixtures. The schedule remains heavy on either side of the break, and that has already shaped the way some national teams are managing Arsenal players. Thomas Tuchel, for example, has confirmed that Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka will join up with England later than the rest of the squad to allow for additional recovery time, and both may feature in only one of the two matches.