Arsenal: Virgil van Dijk transfer doesn't necessitate Shkodran Mustafi exit

Arsenal’s defense is the talk of the town, and rightfully so, but throwing away Shkodran Mustafi to justify signing Virgil van Dijk is unnecessary.

Arsenal’s defense has come under heavy scrutiny through the first two matches, despite the fact that everyone seems to forget (or ignore) – that the defense has been without key figures, namely Laurent Koscielny for two games and Shkodran Mustafi for one.

And speaking of Mustafi, I have come to you today to discuss a serious problem that needs to be addressed. Why, on God’s green earth, are we still talking about the German defender leaving the club?

The best justification I have heard is that his exit will lead to Virgil van Dijk coming to the club. And by ‘best’ I mean still incredibly daft, but at least it’s better than talking about just selling him for the sake of selling him.

Mustafi was a hero last year. 19 undefeated matches in a row. Fixed the catastrophic opening match lapses. Solidified himself as worth every bit of money spent on him, despite massive doubts as to whether he was worth it or not, or if he was a panic buy.

None of that mattered. Why? Because he was a fantastic addition.

Virgil van Dijk would be the same. And I have finally gotten over my aversion to his “I don’t want to play” attitude (huzzah!) and would welcome him at Arsenal.

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But to sell Mustafi and buy van Dijk is like taking two steps back and two steps forward. You end up right where you started.

I have already covered how the sale of Gabriel Paulista to make room for van Dijk would be an epic transition. Mustafi isn’t the same case, as Mustafi is first-team quality and rising to become one of the best in the league.

If we add van Dijk, we have to keep Mustafi. Simply because a back line of Mustafi – van Dijk – Koscielny is so tantalizing that it’s probably the first thing I’m going to do on FIFA 18. But the key to that back three is that each and every one of them has proven themselves to be at the top of their game.

Meaning there is no point to deprive it of one of them and then slip Nacho Monreal in there. Monreal is solid, don’t get me wrong, but these other three are better.

If you want the best defense you can possibly field, then don’t sell one of the best defenders you can field to get it that way. It’s a simple concept.

Next: 3 Reasons Patience Is Paying Of With Virgil Van Dijk

Thankfully, I’m not too worried. Mostly because the sale of Mustafi still ranks as the dumbest story of the summer and completely unlike anything Arsene Wenger would do.

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Arsenal: Virgil van Dijk transfer doesn’t necessitate Shkodran Mustafi exit

By Josh Sippie | Aug 25, 2017

Arsenal’s defense is the talk of the town, and rightfully so, but throwing away Shkodran Mustafi to justify signing Virgil van Dijk is unnecessary.

More from Pain in the Arsenal