Arsenal Vs Burnley: Shkodran Mustafi 2.0 has arrived

Shkodran Mustafi was outstanding, again, in the 1-0 win over Burnley on Sunday. After growing pains in his first season at Arsenal, the 2.0 version has now arrived.

I was a relieved man when Arsene Wenger decided to, uncharacteristically, spend £35 million of the club’s precious cash on centre-half on Shkodran Mustafi. Not only was he needed in the short term — he was, given injuries to Gabriel Paulista and Per Mertesacker. But Arsenal have been crying out for a centre-half ever since the Invincible era, when I was merely a young lad and the footballing landscape was very different indeed.

It seems odd that a professional club with an experienced and accomplished manager can fail to highlight and address a weakness as glaring as the defensive one in North London. But that is exactly what happened. Until Mustafi. Or, at least, until the attempted solution of Mustafi.

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Mustafi’s first season at the club was not as smooth as his price tag may have demanded. While he settled to life quickly, enjoying a blossoming partnership with Laurent Koscielny, there were signs that the German lacked the necessary composure to consistently defend at the level expected of him. Rash tackles, overly-aggressive decisions, positional lapses. Concerns were growing.

By the end of the year, the jury was still out. Talented, yes. But unfulfilled. Athletically, Mustafi possessed all of the traits a centre-half needs. Strong in the air, despite his lack of height, quick across the ground, powerful in the challenge. However, mental mistakes, blots of concentration, poor decisions, scuppered the success that he should have had.

This season, though, Mustafi has managed to calm his attitude. Still abrasive and forthright, he has rounded off the edges a little, composing himself, ensuring that he makes the right decision before choosing to fling himself at the ball, midway into the opposition half, exposing himself to a card and his team to wide open spaces.

He showed this new personality in his return from injury against Spurs last weekend. Marshalling Harry Kane, who could stake a claim to be the best number 9 in world football right now, throughout, Mustafi was clear in his thinking, dutiful in his defending, and committed in his play.

And on Sunday, again, he was excellent. This time he was tasked with Ashley Barnes. Perhaps not a player of the same quality as Kane, but someone who offers a more agricultural threat. Mustafi was up to the challenge. He won nine aerial duels during the 1-0 win over Burnley. That was four more than any other player on the pitch. In a word, he was stifling.

Next: Arsenal Vs Burnley: 5 things we learned

Now 13 games into the Premier League season, there is a definite pattern emerging to Arsenal’s defence with and without Mustafi. Seven games with, one goal conceded; six games without, 15 goals conceded. Mustafi 2.0 has arrived. He may finally be the solution to a problem that has run for over a decade.

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