Arsenal: Time To Move For Shkodran Mustafi

Arsenal need a centerback, but that’s not news. They need one more than ever though, with Mertesacker’s injury. Enter Shkodran Mustafi.

Germany has this amazing ability to constantly pump out class defenders. And they all fit the same mold – big, strong, intelligent and scattered about the world (they all kind of look the same too, oddly enough). Arsenal has missed out on two potential big, strong, intelligent defenders already this summer. Mats Hummels and Benedikt Howedes, two guys who have undoubtedly bolstered Arsenal’s defense, have set themselves up at Bayern Munich and FC Schalke, respectively.

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But that doesn’t mean that all the big, strong, intelligent defenders are gone. Arsenal’s own version, albeit one that is past his expiration date, has suffered an injury and speculation is saying that it’s a lengthy injury. Honestly though, that shouldn’t even matter. Mertesacker served his time, he proved what being a successful defender at Arsenal is all about.

One reason I loved the idea of Howedes coming to Arsenal is that I saw him as a perfect transition from Mertesacker. But again, Howedes is not the only one out there like him.

The German defender I am speaking of is Shkodran Mustafi, who is becoming the new big-time defender for Germany and he has a killer name to boot.

Mustafi had himself a year at Valencia. At just 24 years of age, he proved to be one of the better defenders in the world, averaging 4.4 interceptions and 2.7 tackles per appearance. Hard to argue with the numbers, especially given that he wasn’t exactly providing those results on a Real Madrid or Barcelona.

Not only that, but Mustafi is an aerial menace. Similar to what Per Mertesacker once was. He wins three aerial duels a game and as we saw at the Euros, sometimes that aerial ability translates to shots from set-pieces. Shots lead to goals, giving Arsenal another threat to produce goals from places where they rarely ever find them – set-pieces.

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Mustafi is only loosely linked to Arsenal, but he is one of the few solutions that makes total sense. He is just 24 years old. Wenger has invested in this German defensive brilliance before and for just around €20m, Arsenal could make a serious move for Mustafi.

He’s at that point where the next move will be the last time when he can be bought at an affordable price. Once he goes to whatever big club can snap him up first, he enters Mats Hummels territory and his price multiplies exponentially.

Arsenal has been here before, where they could have made a shrewd signing before a player exploded onto the international stage and it would be foolish to let this opportunity pass.

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Mustafi has emerged on the transfer radar of Chelsea, but Arsenal has to pip in and make things interesting. We don’t know how long Mertesacker is out for, but even with him healthy, Arsenal still needs another center back. Mertesacker’s injury should merely push the issue. Rob Holding is a fantastic future option but Mustafi doubles as a future Hummels and a present day contender for that second central defensive role.