Arsenal: Is the chopping block sporting Shkodran Mustafi’s head?

Arsenal’s defense was a problem last year, but the track record of transfer rumors hints at an almost certain ousting. And there seems no bigger candidate than Shkodran Mustafi.

Arsenal’s transfer window hasn’t even opened up yet (even if Liverpool’s has), and yet, there is an immensely clear trend with their transfer rumors – Sokratis, Medhia Benatia, Benjamin Pavard, Caglar Soyuncu.

Two old, potentially bargain centerbacks that are presumably heading in to take the place of our own aging centerback, who also happens to be out for some time with an injury – Laurent Koscielny.

And two young, supposedly ready for the next level centerbacks that Sven Mislintat believes are capable of making a big splash, given the price tags that they’re sporting.

But who would the latter be coming in to replace? It isn’t Konstantinos Mavropanos. Mavropanos has yet to make his big impact or even get too big of a chance. He is in no risk of being prematurely replaced. Not by a long shot.

More from Pain in the Arsenal

Despite an underwhelming season, it isn’t Rob Holding. Holding is coming off his sophomore slump. That is a time when players are at heightened odds to bounce back and prove themselves.

That leaves two people – Calum Chambers or Shkodran Mustafi. The former is coming off his most promising year ever, following a fantastic loan at Middlesbrough, he’s only 23 years old, and he is not an error-prone defender, despite the error-prone defense of the team he played for.

Which leaves us with Shkodran Mustafi, a defender who I am still excited to see develop within the starting XI, but a defender who was guilty of a ton of mistakes and has serious lapses in reliability that really aren’t explainable, other than that he ‘checks out’ of games.

There are a ton of young defenders coming up the ranks that look to be ready for an advanced role with the team. Mustafi has had that chance for two years and you can argue one way or the other if he has taken it.

I wouldn’t be surprised if various fans, and perhaps even higher-ups at Arsenal, would tell you that they would trust Soyuncu or Pavard over Mustafi. But that’s speculating. I haven’t asked.

Next: 3 Reasons To Give Danny Welbeck A New Contract

Not to mention the fact that Mustafi was almost sold last year, which adds to the speculation that maybe there isn’t a lot of belief in him within the club.

Home/Arsenal News