The German World Cup winner Shkrodan Mustafi came to Arsenal in a fanfare as the saviour of our new defensive line up, and with Rob Holding and Calum Chambers waiting in the wings to replace our ageing back line the future looked rosy. Obviously the youngsters have not yet lived up to the promise (they may yet do make that level) but the German was supposed to be the ready-made article to replace Per Mertesacker.
He started off very well, but he has admitted that it was very difficult to start with. “The Premier League is the most intense league in Europe or even in the world,” Mustafi told Arsenal.com. “I knew that before but now that I’ve played a lot of games, it’s just something that you feel. Your body feels really tired because you have a lot of games and it’s not used to it, so that shows you that the league is really intense.
“I think you grow. When I was younger and when I started to play in Italy and Spain, you always heard people saying, ‘It comes with experience’ but what is that experience? Why is everyone saying it?
“Then when you play in the Premier League alongside players who have won a lot of trophies or who have played a lot of games in the Premier League, they give you this kind of experience so you make less mistakes, you react differently to different situations. I would say that in the last year I’ve taken a lot of experience for myself.
“As a defender it’s really difficult to always do your job 100 per cent because it means that you have to do everything right. As soon as you do something wrong, it gives the other team an opportunity to score a goal, and then obviously it looks not so good.
“I’m working on being there when it really matter because you can lose a tackle or a duel, but to really be there when you have to, to deny the opponents’ opportunities, that’s what I’ve been working on.”
We all know that the German has made mistakes, but we also know that the Premier League is the hardest in the world. I remember when Laurent Koscielny arrived here from the lower French Leagues (and we will never forget that League Cup Final) but we must admit that he did grow into the role because he already had the talent as well as the confidence. So do you think that in the near future, maybe as early as next season, he will take over Koscielny’s mantle of being our defensive rock?
Or do you think he will never reach those heights?
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There is potential there
I agree, he has the potential to be quality, which he was before he joined us. Unfortunately, he’s fast becoming the new Squillaci under Wenger’s management. I think Mustafi would be a beast under Simeone.
Stop it at the source, that’s why AFC CB’s have it tougher than many is because we don’t try stopping it early enough. Walcott’s gone thank dog but how many players have we got that can make Mustafi’s job easier. Need to get out to players quicker and don’t let them face our goal or get space for crossing.
AFTV sucks, people are regularly laughing at our fan base.
That lot need to thank Arsenal and arsenal fans for their success. Imagine Manchester clubs fan, Chelsea fan or even spurs fan come up with that ideal. It won’t make through the first phase let alone being that successful. They owe their success to the brand arsenal his and start using that medium to mend deteriorating arsenal image instead of contributing to it.
Couldn’t agree more. Allot of AFC fans including myself subscribed to that channel thinking it was something else. Because of Arsenal’s name along with fans in the title. We helped them get their feet off the ground. I’m sick that I helped. Now it’s just a joke and all these people care about are the views no matter that it’s the enemy they keep entertained.
Wasn’t that the same point Bellerin was trying to make that brought him under so much fire from the same Arsenal fans?
Yes, I don’t like Bellerin, he currently one of Arsenal’s poor performing players, but I love Arsenal. And so whoever steps up in defense of arsenal has my support.
Mustafi is a wholehearted player but unfortunately he lacks height ,speed and composure and as such he will never be a top quality centre back.
Do watch him play for his previous clubs and his national team? Any defender will lack his composure if he has to do the job of two to three players on the field. I have countlessly watch him filling in for Moreal or whoever plays on the left, filling in into the DM position when Xhaka is no where to be found and taking the ball forward when midfielders refuse to not to mention him with Kos get no help from other players. Kos does the same as well. Wenger basically defends with two players. There is a match tomorrow to confirm my observation.
Kos wasn’t exactly great at first, but he developed and grew into the role, and became an excellent defender. I believe that Mustafi can do the same.
Our lack of defensive midfield cover doesn’t help things, and neither does our obvious lack of defensive coaching, but I certainly haven’t given up on him. I reckon there are much better chapters to come in Mustafi’s Arsenal career.
I totally agree.How can we judge ANY Central Defender when our Manager refuses to address the CDM role that has never been filled since Gilberto left.
Alexis Song always run back to defend
Song was a very typical Wenger player in that he had limited ability and Wenger thought he would eventually be re-created into a World Class midfielder.He never got even close.
“Alexis” Song?
OT big shout out to Jack Whitehall on the Brits ???
Wasn’t that the same point Bellerin was trying to make that brought him under so much fire from the same Arsenal fans?
Yes, I don’t like Bellerin, he currently one of Arsenal’s poor performing players, but I love Arsenal. And so whoever steps up in defense of arsenal has my support.