Arsenal: Shkodran Mustafi missed more than Alexis Sanchez

Arsenal has been without two key players this summer, but it is not Alexis Sanchez that is missed the most, it is certainly Shkodran Mustafi.

Arsenal’s preseason has been dominated by some pretty standard themes to compile upon the ongoing narratives regarding the summer in general. Obviously the biggest ordeal of it all is the Alexis Sanchez contract saga, which feels no closer to being resolved than it did at the start of June.

Meanwhile, Mesut Ozil has made it clear that he wants to stay, proving himself to be a bonafide Gunner and one that we should be quite fond of.

Alexandre Lacazette‘s arrival spiced things up and gave us something to look forward to, as did the pure grit and determination of Sead Kolasinac, the other new boy. Thomas Lemar, too, has captured the headlines, as we endlessly track him in the hopes of making a third signing.

Conspicuously missing from these ongoing stories is the absence of Shkodran Mustafi, the massive £35m signing that Arsene Wenger made last year, making him the most expensive defender in club history.

The German went on a 19-match unbeaten streak to begin his career in North London and looked like everything we could have ever dreamed of.

That guy, that dreamy defender, has not been here all summer and, not coincidentally, our defense has looked shambolic at times. With Mohamed Elneny and Ainsley Maitland-Niles having to learn the trade rather quickly, goals have been tough to prevent, particularly in the more competitive fixtures after the Australian tour.

There has been sloppy passing, wanton ball control and just a pervading sloppiness. Again, this has been with often gaping holes in the back three where midfielders stand.

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Many people are upset that Alexis Sanchez has been delayed on his return to London due, perhaps, to illness, but I’m moreso bummed that Mustafi has been on vacation so long. As the title clearly states, I believe that it is Mustafi who is missed far more than Alexis and my logic is pretty simple.

One thing we have not missed this preseason is attacking gumption. There has been plenty of that to go around when our big guns were on the pitch. Sometimes they just needed more time.

On the contrary, as mentioned, the defense has been the complete opposite, oftentimes looking wholly inept.

Even with youngsters on the pitch, our attack rarely, if ever, looked inept.

Mustafi is needed asap to fill in the gaps on the defense. If Alexis wants to have another week, take it. I have all the faith in the world that Ozil, Lacazette, Olivier Giroud, Alex Iwobi, Danny Welbeck and yes, even Theo Walcott, can hold down the fort in his absence. And do take care not to forget the resurgence of Aaron Ramsey and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

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The defense has had no sudden emergence, nor any resurgences, unless you want to count Calum Chambers, which Arsene Wenger clearly doesn’t. Give us back Mustafi.

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