According to Football.London, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has hinted that it wouldn’t ‘ideal’ for the Gunners to part with defender Shkodran Mustafi during the January transfer window.
Doubts were cast over the Germany international’s future when the Mirror reported that the centre-back had recently switched agents.
Mustafi’s last start for the Gunners across all competitions came at the start of December, the ace has only made three outings in the Premier League this season, two of these were off the bench during the hectic Christmas period.
Whilst the 27-year-old seems to be a fringe player, the Gunners would be taking a massive risk if they were part to with Mustafi giving their current defensive injury crisis.
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“Can we afford? (to lose another defender) The ideal scenario is no. If it happens, we will have to invent something.”
“We are playing with full-backs that are not full-backs. They are wingers or central midfielders and could we afford to lose full-backs? No, but we don’t have any full-backs.”
Were Mustafi to leave this month, the Gunners would only have David Luiz, Sokratis and Rob Holding to call on at centre-back.
The north London outfit currently have defenders Kieran Tierney, Calum Chambers, Hector Bellerin and Sead Kolasinac sitting on the sidelines.
As a result of injuries in the full-backs department, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the likes of Mustafi having to deputise on the flanks in the future.
Good. I believe Mustafi could also benefit from Arteta’s system, because the other CBs have been playing better with it
Mustafi is one of the fittest CBs at Arsenal and he was the best interceptor in 2018/19, as compared to the likes of Van Dijk, Luiz, Keane, Tarkowski and Dunk. The protection from the midfielders in the new system will minimize the amount of his nervous decisions
Holding needs more time to regain his previous form and the other CBs would unlikely to stay fit till the end of this season, so Mustafi will be required. No need for Boateng
I’m starting to think arteta Is not big character enough to demand more to the board and is too quiet and soft with the players…if we had the chance to sell xhaka and mustafi we should had do it..we will regret, I’m sure of it..we could get much better players even if they need yo adapt, like rabiot
Arteta has to maximise financial aspects.
1. If we sell Xhaka now, hurriedly, his value will be lower than in the summer after he has had a run of decent games (and he HAS been playing better under Arteta).
2. Same thing with Mustafi. Also, him leaving now would necessitate a new -mid-season CB which could end up badly long-term. Better to stick with Mustafi until the summer when we get Saliba, Holding will be fitter, Chambers may return from injury and maybe even Mavro impresses in Germany and we can instead spend on a RB and a midfielder.
Unfortunately, we’re a poorer version of United and have to be more patient.
The way injury situation with player is at the moment with Arsenal players ,we surely don’t need Boateng. We rather need to sign a strong combative midfielder incase Torreira get injured. May be we should call back M. Elneny
I get the rationale. It’s underwhelming but I get it. Mustafi’s value couldn’t be lower so at the very least he can add a couple of million to his transfer fee in the summer by playing gaffe-free football. At his best he can help.
Trudeau, spot on…it would be absolutely suicidal to let him go without a replacement at the moment.
With all our defensive injuries, MA is being sensible and, even though it seems other clubs are interested, he is waiting to see if the club are able to sign anyone in this window.
Yet another player our manager has to tip toe around because he cant get rid and cant replace. Arteta doesn’t want mustaffi but he can’t say that openly. He has to be positive about him and tats what he is doing. Another player we cant offload but font want, another relic from the previous regime we are stuck with and holding us back.
If Arsenal could sell mustaffi and Ozil, which they cant, it would have brought in much needed funds and released £460,000 a month in wages to actually use more wisely. Add to that Elneny and Mykitarian, who we at the moment loaned out, another £250,000 a month that we will have to pay next season unless we sell or loan them, but because of their wages to performance, we wont be able to sell. Its all very disturbing.
Mustafi, Elneny and Mkhi can definitely be sold. Their salaries simply means we have to deduct from their valuation. Mustafi for 10 M instead of 15, Elneny 2 or 3 M instead of 5 or 6, Mkhi for 15 M instead of 20+.
Ozil, though, will stay, partially because he wants to. And if he plays at least close to like in the previous few matches it’s perhaps better than losing money on him. And it’s only another 16 months anyway.
Like Ramsey, Sanchez and a few others all assets for this club that have ended up not being an asset at all. That folks is why we have no money, are not doing well in the league andcthe value of our club is dropping like a stone. Our assets are worthless, or at least too many of them.
Considering our defensive crisis, it is best not to sell Mustafi at this point of time. Also I agree that Mustafi can definitely benefit from Arteta’s training methods and more defensive shield ahead of him will prompt him to make less errors and he will surely improve. Let us give him another chance till the summer and than see what happens.
Spot on Reggie.