Arsenal: Shkodran Mustafi Needed Before Leicester City Clash

Arsenal’s defensive woes were exposed against Liverpool on Sunday. Shkodran Mustafi is now desperately needed before Leicester City clash next week.

In a 4-3 pummelling, much was learned from Arsenal’s performance. Theo Walcott is still his frustratingly talented and yet inconsistent self, Alexis Sanchez is not a striker and Arsene Wenger is naive, unprepared plonker who desperately needs to spend some money.

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That last point is only accentuated when the spate of injury concerns is considered, especially at centre-half. Arsenal looked woefully short of options, relying on Rob Holding and Calum Chambers to hang on to the coattails of Liverpool’s fluid and pacy front line. It didn’t work.

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Now, after given a tough start to the season, Arsenal will now travel to Leicester City in the hope of recovering from the opening day defeat. The anticipated return of Mesut Ozil, Olivier Giroud and most importantly, Laurent Koscielny, was for this match, however,

Wenger has now thrown this expectation into doubt, stating:

"“We will try, but when they [Giroud, Ozil and Koscileny] have not enough preparation they get injured”"

That is worrying, especially in terms of Koscielny’s return. As shown on Sunday, Wenger has not done his due diligence in the transfer window to assemble a centre-half group capable of handling injuries and fatigue. He must now amend for such a mistake, and he must do so before next weekend’s game.

Even if Koscielny is available for the Leicester City clash, he will likely be a little short of match fitness, and one of Holding or Chambers will be asked to start alongside him. That does not inspire me with confidence and against another pacy and dangerous front line with Riyad Mahrez, Jamie Vardy and new signing Ahmed Musa, the concerning back four could be set to struggle once again.

Mustafi is not just needed this summer. He’s needed this week. Wenger cannot expect a player lacking match fitness and a young and inexperienced partner a week after conceding four goals to handle such a dangerous attacking side, away from home. And yet, that is what will happen if Mustafi is not signed in the next few days.

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The Valencia defender was available before the Liverpool game, and if Wenger had any sense, he would have secured his services for the start of the season. He didn’t and now he’s playing catch up. He has less than a week to redeem himself.