Shkodran Mustafi is on the brink of completing a move to Arsenal and has revealed that Mesut Ozil played a major role in his decision to join the Gunners.
After a transfer window of disappointments, things finally seem to be going right for Arsene Wenger. Seeing a number of big names turn down the opportunity to move to the Emirates, the Arsenal manager has made amends by roping in Lucas Perez and Shkodran Mustafi from La Liga.
Arsenal have reportedly completed the signings of the two players, but the official announcement hinges on some unfinished paperwork. Speaking about the two new names that will move to the club this week, Wenger said (via ESPN):
“I think they should go through, both of them. We have to finish the paperwork. I don’t know exactly when we will announce it. But I think it will be announced early next week.
“We have bought two players — Mustafi and Perez. They will integrate into the team now and we will help them join the squad.”
Mustafi will join familiar faces at the Emirates this summer. Known to share a good relationship with his German compatriots Mesut Ozil and Per Mertesacker, it should take very little time for the defender to adapt into the Arsenal setup.
With his deal at Valencia on the verge of completion, the 24-year-old stated that it was due to Ozil’s advice and inspiration that he decided to move to North London.
“I did not see Per for a long time because he quit international football but I talked to Mesut,” Mustafi told Sky Sports Germany. “He told me everything I wanted to know. Everything was positive, so I was convinced very fast. It did not take much.
“I have always loved Arsenal, I like how they play here, it is not typical English. The game here is more like in Spain and with the German national team, keeping the ball on the grass, so it was easy to convince me.”
Mustafi will be a priceless addition to an Arsenal side that is plagued with injuries. For the first game of the season, with both their first choice centre-backs unavailable, the partnership of Rob Holding and Calum Chambers failed to contain Jurgen Klopp’s rampant Liverpool.
For the second and third game against Leicester and Watford respectively, Koscielny’s arrival gave Holding the confidence to play and a marked improvement could be noticed in the English defender’s game.
Still only 20, Wenger would not like to put too many first-team responsibilities on the shoulders of young Holding, who is still learning his trade. Thus, Mustafi and Koscielny are likely to form a more solid pairing and could give the Arsenal fans something to cheer about this season.
