Arsenal Vs Norwich City: Shkodran Mustafi proved what we already knew

Interim Arsenal head coach Freddie Ljungberg started Shkodran Mustafi in his first game. Sadly, Mustafi proved to everyone what we already knew: he isn’t good enough.

Freddie Ljungberg wanted to know what he had. As Arsenal interim head coach taking over from Unai Emery, he had his own ideas about which players deserved to play, and he was willing to give them a clean slate to prove their worth.

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One of those players was Shkodran Mustafi. The German centre-half made his first Premier League start of the season in Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Norwich City. After not playing one minute in the league all year, Mustafi was swiftly included in the starting XI after a series of encouraging performances in the Europa League and EFL Cup.

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While his showings throughout his Arsenal career have been problematic and there were major concerns regarding his qualities at the highest level, his displays this season were deserving of recognition. Many fans might not like it, but Ljungberg was well within his rights to start Mustafi. It was not an entirely unhinged decision.

And yet, in his lone start of the season, Mustafi proceeded to display precisely why he has not been trusted in big games all year long. He was what he has always been, an utter liability, making positional errors, chasing shadows throughout, especially that of Teemu Pukki, and repeatedly on the edge of costing Arsenal yet another goal. Perhaps most egregiously, it was his cautious decision-making that cost the Gunners dear in the build-up to both goals.

For the first, Mustafi was initially pulled out of position by a pass into midfield, then he failed to recover his position as Pukki slid in behind the defence, and once finally getting the right side of the ball, neither he nor David Luiz pressured the Norwich striker on the edge of the area, allowing a shot to deflect off Mustafi and into the net.

His mistake was similar for the second. This time, it was the provider that he did not close down, backing off Abel Hernandez as the Norwich winger dribbled forwards. With Calum Chambers caught ahead of play, Mustafi needed to come across and cover the space, closing down the ball. He didn’t, eventually allowing Hernandez to tee up Todd Cantwell on the edge of the area.

Mustafi also struggled greatly with Pukki, the Finnish striker wriggling free of Mustafi time and again, his dribbling skill, deceptive speed, and excellent touch causing major issues for the hapless centre-half. Mustafi eventually ended up on the deck as Pukki spun free for the final time, an emblematic moment for his overall performance.

If Ljungberg wanted to give Mustafi a chance to prove that he could translate his midweek form to the weekend, he was right to. But Mustafi only proved what everyone knew already: he simply is not good enough. It might be kind for Ljungberg and Arsenal to put him out of his misery.