Arsenal vs Southampton: Shkodran Mustafi needs this

Arsenal’s crucial match against Southampton might have one key absence filled with one key return in Shkodran Mustafi, who needs this match.

What an interesting season this has been for the four newest Arsenal signings. Between Lucas Perez, Shkodran Mustafi, Granit Xhaka and Rob Holding, there is still not a clear consensus of who the best signing of the bunch is. To add even more curiosity to this collection, at different points throughout the year, each one has stated their case to be considered the best.

This is all a good thing, and it has led to near unanimous approval of last summer’s dealings. And while Granit Xhaka seems to be in the clear, Rob Holding is on an upward trajectory and Lucas Perez is eyeing an exit due to lack of matches, it is actually Mustafi, the early consensus favorite, who has fallen behind in the race.

The German defender went on a 19 match unbeaten streak when he first joined Arsenal. He completed Kostafi, which sounds like an elite military unit. It seemed set that he was by far the best, but he showed worse rust coming out of injuries than anyone, and he’s had two now this year.

Going into St. Mary’s to face Southampton, the Gunners figure to be without Laurent Koscielny holding the back three together, which makes things incredibly dicey. Arsene Wenger can roll the dice on one of his wide center backs or he can invite Mustafi back into the fold in a new position.

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For the sake of the German, he should be asking to be the glue in the middle of the defense. Rob Holding is quickly surpassing him and even with there being a new opening, with three center backs, Mustafi still seems destined to have to fight his way back into the starting XI.

And with the promise we have seen from both Nacho Monreal and Gabriel Paulista, that will be no easy feat.

With just four matches left to play, Mustafi can use all the boosts he can get, and there won’t be any better than against Southampton, with Captain Koscielny likely out. Mustafi has to want to finish a season that started so positively on a high note.

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And, in the meantime, his return to form will put further pressure on his fellow center backs and then everyone wins, as everyone is more determined than ever going into a crucial summer transfer period.