Arsenal: Shkodran Mustafi Boasts Captain Material

Shkodran Mustafi was back to his abrasive, aggressive but controlled best on Sunday. The vocal and communicative centre-half boasts Arsenal captain material.

The leadership qualities of the Arsenal have been questioned throughout Arsene Wenger’s tenure. Early in his reign in North London, Wenger combined his own technical and tactical knowledge with the steel, the determination and the fortitude of his English core.

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The likes of Martin Keown, Tony Adams and Lee Dixon were stalwarts at the heart of the Gunners’ defence, spearheading the team with their experience and their leadership as much as their technical skill.

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It is an attribute that has been missing in recent seasons. A soft underbelly has been a prevalent criticism of this team, one that is vindicated with the team’s repeated struggles to grind out victories, win the difficult games, rather than rely on their fancy football and sexy flicks. Shkodran Mustafi, though, is changing the makeup of this team. Here is what he said after the win over Burnley:

"““It was important for us to win even if you don’t look at the other results. Playing at home to Burnley, you want to take the three points and if you want to stay up there, [winning] is something you have to do and that is what we did. Even when Burnley scored the equaliser I looked in the eyes of the other players and you can see we never give up. In other games, it looks like Arsenal aren’t going to come back or it is going to be a draw, but then we score in the last second just because everyone believes in it. I think you have to give credit to this team. It shows how much belief we have in ourselves and that we are going to go for it.”"

Such comments are wonderful to hear. For years, Arsenal have crumbled under pressure. The late goals that are synonymous with Sir Alex Ferguson’s lengthy success at Manchester United have been vacant for the Gunners. Not this year, though.

Mustafi, although not the scorer of these goals, is the instigator of Arsenal’s self-belief. He is communicative, vocal. A leader in the dressing room, all at the age of 24 having only been signed in the summer. That is unusual in modern day football.

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Mustafi is a prime candidate for the captaincy of the club in the future. He has all the character traits that one would look for in such a man, he plays the perfect position and is displaying his willingness to lead, just six months after joining.