Arsenal: Shkodran Mustafi Proves Per Mertesacker Is Still Integral

Per Mertesacker is no longer a regular fixture in the Arsenal lineup. However, Shkodran Mustafi’s comments prove that the German is still an integral member.

In his pre-match press conference on Thursday morning, Arsene Wenger stated that Per Mertesacker’s contract will be extended with Arsenal taking up a year-long option on the deal. There had been rumours that that would be the case over the past few days but to hear the news officially is comforting.

I wrote yesterday that the decision to extend his contract was important as Mertesacker offers continuity, an attribute for a club that is difficult to cultivate and crucial to win titles. Although the German will likely rarely start for the Gunners, his signing in nonetheless important.

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Shkodran Mustafi is proving this statement true. The £35 million man, when asked about how he found life settling into a new squad in a new city in a league that he has very little experience of – he made one substitute appearance for Everton in a 1-0 loss to Bate Borisov in the Europa League – heralded the impact of his international teammate, the wisdom that he imparted and the help that he provided:

"“Per helped me a lot. When I had just arrived, having a person at the club with so much experience and with the personality he has helped me a lot. He helps me on the pitch because when he sees things, he corrected me a few times. He’s not just the type of player who says, ‘You didn’t do that well enough’ or, ‘You have to do it this way’, he tells you why. In the short time that I worked with him in the national team, I learned a lot from him.”"

These comments are why Mertesacker is still integral to Arsenal’s success. His vast array of experience, his leadership and his communication as club captain all lend to the fact that he is a central cog in the Gunners’ machine.

Although he will likely no longer start on a regular basis, he offers excellent cover for injuries over a long and arduous season, as well as enhancing the mental capabilities, the determination and the winning attitude of the squad on the whole.

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The continuity that Mertesacker provides as he continues to act as a teacher for Mustafi is essential for Arsenal to enjoy success in the coming years. Mustafi is still yet to lose a game since his move to the Emirates, forming an impregnable partnership with fellow centre-half Laurent Koscielny, and without playing a minute, Mertesacker has still played a big hand in that.

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