Arsenal: Sounds like Shkodran Mustafi better stay put, then
By Josh Sippie
Arsenal fans have maligned the inconsistencies of Shkodran Mustafi since he arrived, but if what he says is true, he better stay right where he is.
A lot of Arsenal players have been speaking about the differences between Unai Emery and Arsene Wenger, but it’s not like we really needed them too. We can see the difference in the way the players play the game.
There is such a high level of preparedness, if not from the off, then after half time. The players have a certain intensity to them, a grit, a belief that they can win (which is something that Hector Bellerin highlighted).
And now, Shkodran Mustafi has highlighted another key component that Emery brings to the club – tactical awareness.
Also known as the one thing that Mustafi arguably lacks the most. Here’s what the German defender had to say, specifically:
"“When we don’t have the ball he tells you exactly where to stand and how to get the ball from the opponent… it is a good mix between freedom but still very disciplined and having the same plan in the whole team, and that is what we saw especially against Liverpool.”More from Pain in the Arsenal3 standout players from 1-0 victory over Everton3 positives & negatives from Goodison Park victoryArsenal vs PSV preview: Prediction, team news & lineups3 talking points from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison ParkMikel Arteta provides Gabriel Martinelli injury update after Everton win"
What is the big thing I’m focusing on here (and you probably are too)? “When we don’t have the ball…”
That right there was such a big part of Wenger’s problems. He needed to have possession because when the team didn’t, they looked lost. They looked like they were just hoping for someone else to get the ball back, because they couldn’t be troubled to.
It’s also a big problem of Mustafi’s. The German is a very hands-on defender and when he is at his best, he is really good. But he often finds himself getting lost, or over-stretching, or bombarding up the pitch for no good reason other than to cure his wanderlust.
Against Liverpool, he was much more composed in his positioning. He was much more aware of what was going on around him, both when the ball was in the near vicinity, and when it wasn’t.
If this was an indication of where Mustafi is headed under Unai Emery, then he’d better stay put, because he is about to become something special.
In the meantime, we may have to weather the inconsistency a bit more, but Emery clearly has the right idea for Mustafi individually and for the club as a whole, so start hopping aboard the Mustafi bandwagon now.