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Arsenal’s defense was already in one hell of a state, but things have gotten worse. Worse as in, here comes Shkodran Mustafi, mutha-effers!
Last year, Arsenal gave up over 50 goals for the first time in like… ever. This year, they are right on pace to do it again, if not to compile upon last year’s total with an even higher one. The only thing keeping us remotely within the hopes of not falling to the same fate is Sokratis, who has been a miracle this year.
Out of the blue, Sokratis and a resurgent Laurent Koscielny took the defense into an area of promise and power. Shutting out Chelsea, no matter the state of their attack, was something remarkable.
Both are out, in case you haven’t heard. And Manchester City is just around the corner. We get a trial run against Cardiff City, a trial run where we get to see how Unai Emery approaches the state of his defense.
Whatever approach Emery takes, there is one thing we can’t hide from – Shkodran Mustafi is coming back, and he is coming back with the knowledge that he was finally put away, on the bench, for a better option.
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Which may well be the first time it has ever happened in Mustafi’s time at the Emirates. He has never been pushed aside, never been truly tested beyond popping the occasional squat on the bench, then coming right back in.
This time around, Mustafi isn’t just “coming back in.” He didn’t earn his spot back in the starting XI, and he knows that. He is only there because the two players that replaced him are hurt. Which would lead me to believe that he is going to be in a different state of mind. A “I need to prove myself” state of mind.
Again, that isn’t a state of mind he has had to be in since he signed way back when. And as I have pointed out in the past, he is actually more likely to have a great match when a lot is riding on him, odd as that seems. I can think of handfuls of primetime matches that he has truly knocked it out of the park in.
It’s all the in-betweens that he struggles with, for whatever reason.
There’s no hiding from it! Shkodran Mustafi is the new (again) center for the defense, perhaps for the long-term, right? He’s only 26!