Pain in the Arsenal
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Arsenal Vs Spurs: 5 things we learned – Mikel Arteta has a hard job

By Andrew Dowdeswell

Arsenal, Mikel Arteta (Photo by JULIAN FINNEY/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Arsenal, Mikel Arteta (Photo by JULIAN FINNEY/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /
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LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 12: Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur battles for possession with Shkodran Mustafi of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on July 12, 2020 in London, England. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in all fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 12: Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur battles for possession with Shkodran Mustafi of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on July 12, 2020 in London, England. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in all fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) /

3. Shkodran Mustafi is terrible

Even before the final 15 minutes, Shkodran Mustafi was enduring yet another horrible performance. While he hadn’t wilted defensively yet, actually holding off Lucas Moura relatively well before the final stages, his play in possession was atrocious.

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In a back-three-based system, the wide centre-backs will usually have the most time and space on the ball. They have room to step out and carry the ball into the midfield and then should have the opportunity play progressive passes forward, either into the wide channel ahead of them or into the feet of an attacking teammate.

Mustafi never did this. Even worse, sometimes he didn’t even try. He took too many touches of the ball, would allow Harry Kane to press him, before turning around and playing pass back to David Luiz or Emiliano Martinez. There was no progression, no calmness, no ability to move Arsenal up the pitch. And even when he did look to play forwards, he had neither the vision or the skill to do so effectively.

Then the final 15 minutes happened. Hapless decision-making, wild challenges, charging out of defence to find himself awfully out of position. It was peak Mustafi, a clear sign of how poor a defender he truly is. Arsenal will not have success with Mustafi anchoring their defence.