Contemplating the influence of his new centre-back Shkodran Mustafi, Arsène Wenger flashed a knowing look as his mind turned to Turf Moor. It was not quite on the scale of the wet-Tuesday-night-in-Stoke stereotype – for a start those notions tend to be addressed to flashier forward players rather than a determined defender – but the inference was there.
Mustafi has had a quietly impressive introduction to Premier League life, intensifying his efforts in the past week as Arsenal swatted aside Chelsea and then Basel in the Champions League. But now, Wenger muses, comes a different type of test. “Let’s see how he survives in games like Sunday against Burnley, where it is a case of ‘Can I head the ball? Can I win the second ball?’” Wenger ponders.
He is certainly hopeful. Mustafi is no shrinking violet and has made his presence felt quite strongly around the place since he was prised away from Valencia at the end of the summer transfer window. A notable characteristic is his confident verbals. Whether it is on the training ground, in the dressing room or on the pitch, Mustafi is happy to make himself heard.
According to Theo Walcott, that has been a blessing for the team. “Of the new players, he especially gets people up for games,” Walcott said. “If you are not doing something right he tells you. He is a German international and that is the way he is.”
Wenger speaks frequently at the moment about how mature he feels this current group are. Mustafi is 24, not exactly ancient for a defender, but he carries himself with a lot of experience behind him – he has played, adapted and lived in three new countries already (England, Italy and Spain). He has become an effective communicator. Wenger likes the look of this ready leadership. “Mustafi is a player who is highly focused,” he says.
“On that front he is a typical German. He wants to do the job well every day and he speaks his mind. He is vocal in the dressing room. He is not a quiet guy who hides. Even when you isolate the pictures of the game and look at that he speaks a lot during the game.
“Laurent Koscielny is the leader because he is captain but Mustafi looks like he is taking leadership as well at the back. What is surprising is how quickly he has integrated into the team and how quickly they have formed a pair that works well together.”
Wenger started the season feeling the heat for reacting slowly to a central defensive crisis, with Per Mertesacker injured until the new year and the Brazilian Gabriel also ruled out for a number of weeks. A rookie pairing for Arsenal’s opening game against Liverpool, with Calum Chambers (since sent on loan to Middlesbrough) and the inexperienced Rob Holding, got caught in the crossfire as Jürgen Klopp’s attackers turned on the style.
Wenger took the flak and waited for his man, welcoming Mustafi at the end of August for a fee in excess of £30m. At 6ft, he is small for a central defender – at some stage that is bound to be tested by the strongest aerial opponents – but so far he has shown a knack for reading danger and dealing with it efficiently. The emergence of the Mustafi-Koscielny connection, a partnership that shows an instinctive understanding to cover one another, has evolved naturally.
In the past week he has quietened down Diego Costa and snuffed out Basel. Consecutive clean sheets may not have been the most newsworthy element from those effervescent attacking displays but Wenger is thankful for a defensive platform to take to Burnley. It is the kind of game Arsenal have been known to trip over on the back of a promising run. Sean Dyche’s team made light work of dismantling Liverpool and Watford on home soil, and Arsenal’s eyes are wide open about what to expect as they try to impose their own game.
Arsenal’s back four have played every minute of every Premier League and European game together since Mustafi arrived. Wenger is encouraged, but quick to point out it is early days to assess how important the defender can become in a team who have found a sudden and enticing improvement.
“He has the potential, which is interesting at the moment. It is a bit too early. You have to be cautious when a guy has played only three or four games. What makes me positive is he is focused, has the desire to do well, and is 24 years old. For a central defender that is quite young. I would say I have a positive feeling.”
Mustafi is absolutely concentrated on doing his job and will cajole his team-mates to do the same. As Walcott said: “We are more and more experienced in the league now and the intensity starts from the front. We act when the opposition gets the ball and we do it as a unit. Everyone acts together, not just one or two. Everyone is on a high and we have to make sure it stays that way.”
