Arsene Wenger has revealed that Shkodran Mustafi would not have been fit enough to start Arsenal’s opening game of the season with Liverpool even if he’d signed in time.
The Gunners opened negotiations with the Germany international while on their pre-season tour of the US, however, protracted dealings with Valencia meant the 24-year-old didn’t complete his move to the Emirates until 30 August, just 24 hours before the transfer window closed.
Speaking at Arsenal’s AGM, the boss revealed why the process took so long and how Mustafi’s failure to put pen-to-paper wouldn’t, despite criticism to the contrary, have influenced his team selection for the 4-3 defeat to Jurgen Klopp’s outfit.
“We started negotiating, we met with Ivan Gazidis in the States the agent of Mustafi and agreed the deal, but it took long to get over the line as Valencia were reluctant to sell.
“We also took longer because in pre-season he was injured and he couldn’t have played against Liverpool.
“When he came he had had just 45 minutes of competition. We needed him to push too and that is sometimes a slow process as it is not only us that can decide whether he signs.”
Arsenal remain undefeated since Mustafi made his Gunners debut against Southampton on 10 September.
Mustafi, great addition to the squad…. welcome to The Arsenal…
I like this guy
Long it may continue.. COYG
He is invincible
That defies the notion we weren’t active in the transfer market at that time.
I like the excitement at the club right now, but I just can’t help but wonder except Chelsea, who have we really beaten ? I know I’m being pessimistic, but this is Arsenal, and not a club you can support with a weak heart….that’s just one man’s opinion
COYG
Hate to rain on all the love in – but his eagerness to go forward and dive into challenges gives me the Vermaelens. Hope it changes.
This makes sense. Mustafi clearly wasn’t a “panic buy” anyway.
I think the best part of Mustafi’s game is that he will extend the career of Kos. When Kos plays with Mert, he has to be the aggressive CB running around a bit more and putting in more tackles. Now Kos can sit back a little more.
It will be nice to see Holding back in action tomorrow too!
Scary that Holding cost so little. However Fantastic that he can develop behind the scenes now with less pressure on him and with Kos and Mert the wrong side of 30 he will get games for sure. Never thought a late blooming Arsenal fan could be so happy about central defensive situation considering what a problem area it was for us for years.
what many do not understand is you can’t rush the transfer process. Firstly aside from the buying and selling club, the player’s sentiment has to be taken into account. That may also mean agents who may decide to position/fish for better options delaying the process. Secondly it may make sense as well for us to delay the purchase if there are other options for us in market that may turn around closer to end of window. In Mustafi’s case, we had to wait for Valencia to be ready to commit to deal. They obviously wanted to have us push up… Read more »
Chelsea wanted Koulibaly and Romagnoli, not Mustafi. IF they had gone for him, we’d have had to pay much more than 35m. After all, they did push us out of the Koulibaly transfer.
Got grilled for saying this after our loss to Liverpool. Feels good to be right innit.
he was never be. The press made it look like that. COYG