Has Shkodran Mustafi done enough to be considered for the Arsenal Premier League first-team again?
There is no doubt that a lot of fans hope never to see Mustafi play in the Premier League again. I understand that but is that a fair reflection of the man’s form and ability?
I personally thought he was the best defender at the back end of last season. Now, that is not saying a lot because the whole team was a sham. However, why was Mustafi the one dropped this season when the likes of Sokratis were playing worse?
But did Mustafi drop his head when he was dropped? No, he never, he got on with training and sorting himself out and is one of the few players that play with confidence. There was no throwing his dummy out of the pram, he accepted the situation for what it was and got on with it.
Apart from an unfortunate own goal against Liverpool has he really played badly in the Carabao Cup or Europa League? I would say not, I am of the opinion he has played well, for the most part, I mean, he was the highest-rated player against Vitoria in the bore draw.
Based on what I have seen so far this season he has been more consistent than Luiz or Sokratis, he has certainly made fewer mistakes.
We all wanted Rob Holding to return, well, we got our wish and what happened? He had a shocker last time out.
Calum Chambers has played decently when not played out of position and for me, he is the only centre half that has played as well as Mustafi this season.
I am in no way suggesting that Mustafi is the future here. I know he is not up to Arsenal standard but neither are the others, especially Luiz and Sokratis and we can only go with what we got right now.
So, out of a bad bunch, I am of the opinion that Mustafi deserves to play in the Premier League as much as Holding, Luiz, Sokratis and Chambers does.
Yet he is the most maligned of them all.