Arsenal vs Burnley: Shkodran Mustafi in a nutshell

Shkodran Mustafi may have played his last for Arsenal, and what a fitting way to go out, that performance against Burnley. It was everything he is.

Arsenal went out with a bang this season, winning 3-1 over Burnley at Turf Moor and showcasing true attacking ability, even with the presence of teenagers and not first-choices. It was all quite promising indeed.

Meanwhile, at the other end, it wasn’t awful, but there was one man, Shkodran Mustafi, who may have played his last as a Gunner. And what a fitting way it would be to go out, because in 90 minutes, he was everything that he’s ever been with the Gunners: Clumsy, heroic, athletic and unreliable.

All rolled into one.

It’s the one thing no one has been able to figure out about the German. How one man can be so clearly capable of literally anything.

Against Burnley, he had a heroic clearance off the line, he completely dominated the airwaves, winning more aerial duels than any other player on the pitch. He was intelligent in his aggressiveness and stout in possession. He even passed remarkably well and created a chance all on his own.

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But on the other side, he mentally checked out at least three times, once inexplicably letting Chris Woods in front of him, where he didn’t even bother to mark him. It mostly seems to happen on set pieces, which is where Burnley truly thrived, with Mustafi and Mavropanos (later Koscielny) unable to muster anything to stop them.

Before Mustafi started making his mistakes, I was ready to call it a heroic ending to his Arsenal career. Again, assuming he is sold in the summer. But this wasn’t a heroic ending, it was the perfect Mustafi ending. One match that encapsulated his very essence as a player. Mistake-ridden but incredibly gifted.

It’s frustrating. So frustrating. This is what we saw when we bought him all those years ago. We saw promise in his commandeering athletic ability. But no matter how you spin it, he can’t get past the mistakes. And as long as that is the case, there’s not much more that can be said. He won’t make it at this level if he can’t cut out the individual mistakes.

So if this is the end, at least it wasn’t a deceptive ending. At least it wasn’t a horror show. Because he isn’t that bad of a defender. He is incredibly gifted. But his one flaw continues to get in the way.