Arsenal's German defender Shkodran Mustafi (C) is helped off the pitch injured during the English FA Cup semi-final football match between Arsenal and Manchester City at Wembley Stadium in London, on July 18, 2020. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / POOL / AFP) / NOT FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING USE / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
According to Sport 1 (h/t Daily Mail), Arsenal are facing a huge dilemma with Shkodran Mustafi. His father has said that all options are open when it comes to his son’s future since he is likely to become a free agent next season. The player, however, has reiterated his desire to stay at the club and fight for his place.
The 28-year-old German defender started his youth career at FV Bebra and then moved to SV Rotenburg. In 2006, he joined Hamburger SV’s youth setup. After 3 years, Everton recruited him for their youth team.
He made just a single appearance for the senior team before Sampdoria signed him in 2012. However, it was only from the following season that Mustafi started getting games. He made over 50 appearances for the Italian side before making the move to Valencia.
At Valencia, he played 81 games, scoring 6 goals and assisting 3 (source – Transfermarkt). Finally, he made the move to Arsenal in 2016 and since then, it’s been a mixed bag for him. He has made over 146 appearances for the Gunners, scoring 9 goals and assisting 5.
Mustafi was a regular part of Germany’s youth teams but has been restricted to just the 20 appearances for the senior side. He was a part of their FIFA World Cup squad in 2014.
Mustafi has had a tough time for Arsenal since joining them. There have been moments of solid defending but largely it has been a case of sub-par showings. He has been too error-prone for a defender of a club of Arsenal’s stature.
With the new arrivals of Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba, Arsenal have 8 centre-backs on their roster. It is clear that few of them are surplus to requirements and Mustafi is among them. Arteta has been using Gabriel, Luiz and Holding regularly. He has also used Keiran Tierney, Sead Kolasinac and Granit Xhaka in that position.
It was only due to the injuries to Pablo Mari, Calum Chambers and David Luiz that Mustafi was reintegrated into the team. While the German has not done much wrong this term, he remains a very unreliable presence at the back.
A move to Eintracht Frankfurt was reported and Arsenal can allow him to leave. The likes of Pablo Mari and Chambers are fit now and have returned to action. Mustafi is clearly a liability that Arsenal don’t need at all.
