Arsenal: Shkodran Mustafi is Sol Campbell’s problem

Sol Campbell stated that Arsenal do not have any leaders at centre-half. He is right. But his problem is not with all of the players at the position. It is with Shkodran Mustafi.

It’s fairly clear that Arsenal require defensive reinforcements this summer. A quick look at the Premier League table and the disparity in their goals-scored and goals-conceded tallies tells you all you need to know. There is no need to dig any deeper.

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With every team having one more game to play, the Gunners currently sit with the third-best goal-scoring record, behind only Liverpool and Manchester City, scoring 73 goals at an average of 1.97 goals per game. Conversely, they also sit ninth in the goals-conceded charts, behind the likes of Newcastle United and Brighton and Hove Albion, conceding a whopping 51 goals, an average of 1.38 per game.

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Clearly, then, help is needed. But what help? You see, such is the extent of Arsenal’s problems in their defending, there isn’t just a one-stop-shop solution. The system that Arsene Wenger employs, the philosophies of the team, as well as the personnel that is used, are all culpable to varying degrees.

But for Sol Campbell, the one thing that he wants to see is a vocal, marshalling, leading centre-half inserted into the heart of the back-four. Here is what he had to say when working as a pundit for Sky Sports this week:

"“Arsenal needs a really big tackler. I think they’re desperate for someone who can head, tackle… a good passer, who can really bring the back four voice. They lack voice. They need someone who’s very vocal, who can start ordering people around the backline.”"

Now, I agree with Campbell wholeheartedly. There is a great need for a leader at the heart of the defence. Laurent Koscielny was never that guy, Per Mertesacker no longer has the legs, and is retiring at the end of the year, and that only leaves Shkodran Mustafi and a bunch of young, prospective players.

It should not be the responsibility of the likes of Calum Chambers and Rob Holding to lead this defence. They are still learning their trade and improving on their own game. They hardly have the capacity to also worry about the organisation and structure of the whole team. That should be Mustafi’s role. The problem is that I just don’t know how good a player Mustafi is.

He certainly has all the traits to be an excellent defender. Athletic, strong, aggressive, good in the air, an excellent reading of the game when he doesn’t switch off. But he never seems to be able to put it all together.

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Campbell’s problem is not with the younger members of the squad. They are there to provide depth, to develop, and to potentially compete for a starting role. It is Mustafi’s job to lead, and I’m just not sure he’s ready for that.