Arsenal: Shkodran Mustafi proof that “panicky” purchases aren’t all bad

Arsenal legend Ian Wright is worried that the Gunners are lining up some “panicky” buys, but that’s what Shkodran Mustafi was, and it worked out pretty well.

Arsenal’s January transfer window is not going as it normally does, which, hopefully, is punishment for Arsene Wenger, who let it get this bad in the first place. Spite aside, Ian Wright has hit out at the transfer links, calling them “panicky.”

“Everything that is happening is being forced on them through other people,” he added, as quoted by Sky Sports.

He quested Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang‘s current value and he questioned Henrikh Mkhitaryan‘s state of mind, while also adding, of course, they were still two quality players.

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These are legitimate concerns. Without the panic surrounding Alexis Sanchez, Arsenal would be nowhere near these players. Mkhitaryan has disappeared since leaving Dortmund and Aubameyang’s character flaws have had to be defended by Sven Mislintat.

These are categorical “panic buys.”

But that doesn’t mean that they should be doubted or shunned just because of the state of the club when making the purchases. I think back to two summers ago. After buying Granit Xhaka, it looked like the transfer window was done and dusted, despite the need for a striker and a defender – two needs that Wenger clearly didn’t see.

It wasn’t until Per Mertesacker and Gabriel both got hurt that Wenger deigned to go out and spend a Wenger-sized fortune on a defender – Shkodran Mustafi.

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I shudder to think what this defense would be like now, without Mustafi. It would be old, undermanned, and probably even worse than it has been lately. Mustafi is one of the few beacons of promise that I can regularly point to and say, “well, we’ve got him, we will be okay in the future.”

Mustafi brings communication, he brings fire and hunger, and he brings youth and athleticism. Hell, he even brings an aerial game that no one imagined his short self (for a centerback) would be able to supply.

All that from a panic buy.

Ian Wright obviously isn’t saying that we should avoid all panic buys, but there are undoubtedly some Gooners out there that are thinking that. Many are criticizing the two linked players, doubting if they are right for the club.

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Mustafi was heavily criticized, but he has done nothing but excel since he arrived. There have been growing pains, sure, but he is now, without a doubt, our best centerback. And that would not be the case if other people hadn’t forced Arsenal into a situation where they had to buy.