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Arsenal: Shkodran Mustafi Leaving Former Starter In The Dark
The immediate form of Shkodran Mustafi has been incredibly impressive. It is leaving former Arsenal starter Gabriel Paulista in the dark.
Arsenal’s new signing Shkodran Mustafi has been rather impressive. The £35 million man was brought in to add to a depleting defence thanks to injuries to various regular starters and improve the vast inexperience that was crippling the side early in the season.
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His performances have been such that many former players have been gushing in their praise over his form, including Alan Smith. The striker, in his regular Telegraph column, praised the immediate impact of the German international, particularly highlighting his quickly established partnership with Laurent Koscielny:
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"“Yet Mustafi, by and large, has slipped into the rhythm with impressive results. Who knows, perhaps his spell at Everton as a youngster prepared him for this. Whatever the reason, it is true that over the last four games, he has not only formed a promising partnership with Laurent Koscielny but showed he can thrive amid the physical stuff.”"
His performances have raised many questions about the men he came to replace. Both Gabriel Paulista and Per Mertesacker have missed the majority of the season due to various ailments, and although the former has now returned to training and played against Nottingham Forest in the League Cup, both are yet to re-establish themselves as regular contributors.
It is the Brazilian international’s role that is particularly in doubt. While Per’s contract expires this summer, as club captain, his role in the dressing room is entrenched. Ron Holding is now seen as the future alongside Mustafi and Gabriel is falling between the cracks. He has been poor when played, far too aggressive to win the ball, getting caught out multiple times, cannot control his emotions in fiery occasions and is naive in his positioning.
Now 25, he is coming to the prime of his career. However, his prime simply isn’t good enough for the Premier League. Mustafi is a far more accomplished centre-half, has developed a terrific partnership with Koscielny and will likely anchor the back four for many years to come. Gabriel simply doesn’t fit.
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He is, however, excellent depth. If he’s happy to sit on the bench behind the trio of Mertesacker, Koscielny and Mustafi, then he is certainly an asset to the squad. However, if Gabriel is expecting regular starts, then quite frankly, he simply isn’t good enough.