Shkodran Mustafi says he watched Roma’s remarkable comeback against Barcelona and thinks the manner in which the Italians overturned a three-goal first leg deficit to beat the La Liga giants on away goals serves as a timely warning to Arsenal.
Arsene Wenger’s squad landed in Moscow yesterday ahead of this evening’s Europa League clash with CSKA knowing they have an advantage of their own to protect as they look to qualify for the competition’s semi-finals.
The key for the Gunners is striking a balance between protecting their 4-1 lead and going for the jugular in attack.
It’s easier said than done, as Real Madrid found out last night when Juventus came desperately close to knocking out the reigning champions with a stunning comeback.
“I think it came as perfect timing for us, to see that it is football, you are never safe especially when you win at home and have the away game,” Mustafi told media at the pre-game press conference on Wednesday.
“You have to be very careful how you show up and I think the game we saw yesterday [Tuesday] was perfect timing for us to show us that we have to be really focused and really concentrated to finish off the job we did in the first leg.
“I did watch it, I thought Roma did a brilliant job. It isn’t easy when you lose the first game 4-1, especially against Barcelona, a team who can always score.
“I think they did a brilliant job but it is nothing that surprises me. Now I have been a few years in professional football and I know this happens often.”
A strong and composed start is certainly needed this evening. Here’s hoping we can keep our heads.
I hope koscienly is back because we’ll need him to be defensively solid. I think the first goal is really important, if we get that then we can quiet the crowd. If they get the first goal then you never know with this team, but I’m fairly confident we’ll get the job done.
Don’t think we’ll see the real Koscielny again IMO. Unless he replaces his legs I think his best years are behind him. A real shame!
We’ve got midfield and goalkeeper to address in the summer but the need for an experienced head at the back is increasing game by game as Mustafi becomes more and more of a liability. Makes our lack of defensive transfer activity last Xmas all the more baffling. Who wouldn’t take Jonny Evans right now?
Yes because we can go out and buy two experienced defenders just before the Moscow game??
Read it again. I said last Xmas (as in the winter transfer window)
Not saying very much but imo he’s still been our best centre back this season, despite his loss of pace (and let’s be honest, he’s still faster than most centre backs). But the way we set up defensively doesn’t help him or other defenders at all. We’re so open with no consistent shape and so we’re reliant on defenders winning 1-on-1 50/50 duels over and over, rather than our players simply backing each other up limiting the oppositions options. It makes rashness almost a necessity and our defenders are bound to come unstuck playing this way no matter how good… Read more »
I think Koscielny plays very well when he is rested, which I assume has to do with his Achilles issues, not loss of pace. He was tremendous in his last match for France.
Now is not the time to criticise and undermine players’ confidence if you are a fan or supporter … we need all those we have got to play to their best … if transfer business is needed , we – or rather the club owners and manger – can turn our attention to it at the right time and not in public .
This guy is such a clown. Hopefully he’s binned off in the summer. Looking forward to him making another huge mistake tonight!
He does his best, and at times he’s amazing. We do need better though.
Back on top! OF WHAT EXACTLY?!
That’s the thing about edibles Jim, it’s not like smoking a joint. Much harder to gauge what quantity will give you happy good times and what will make you sound as confused as John Terry contemplating the concept of being a decent human being.
Chortle chortle
Remember Kos’s first few years at Arsenal? He also made a lot of mental errors. He grew into the defense we all love. Mustafi brilliant at times and makes some truly horrific mistakes at times. He is still just 24 and he’ll be a great defender once he cleans up the mental part of his game. Half of his problem is focus. Be mentally tuned in for 90 minutes. Once he cleans that up, he’ll be fine
He turns 26 in about a week, and he came from a top league rather than Kos who came from France. I thought the same until this season but I just can’t envisage it now sadly.
So he is 25.
He is 25 until he turns 26. Let’s start this again!
I remember Kos’s early time well. (First few years is an exaggeration by the way). I defended him to the hilt from the moment he played his first minute for us because I know my defenders and knew he had what it took.
Mustafi doesn’t. This will end in tears, get rid of him now.
Please look into Otamendi. He’s at the top of his game. Look at how Otamendi was in the beginning at man city….
Anyways, I want to see some shake up in that defensive coaching department and see what they can do about polishing up Mustafi.
Mustafi is amazing, it’s just his errors that need to be ironed out, and for that we need a good defensive coaches. Otherwise, you could bring in other defenders too and watch them suffer similar fates
True Arsenal fan and supporter are you ???
The guys who boast that they are the only true arsenal fans as they buy seasons tickets, but goads every player when they make mistakes until they leave the club, and if they perform well elsewhere, says the manager didn’t use them properly. Hats off to u all.
Is that irony?
There’s a certain irony in the guy palpable for more goals through individual error than probably anyone else in the league being the one trolleyed out to talk about having to be focused and careful…
Although I’m not absolving Mustafi completely, it’s worth reading this..
https://www.premierleague.com/stats/top/players/error_lead_to_goal
Interesting to see that we have THREE in the top 8!!!
Yes, interesting in the sense of eye-bleeding.
palpably culpable
Haha. Yes brain fart there. I’m glad you knew what I meant
I certainly hope somebody spoke to Mustafi after the Southampton game. We need a rock solid performance from him tonight.
He’s only 25, his best years are ahead of him, so long as he stays fit.
We are odds on to do it, hope it is a relaxed evening.
Let’s remember Koscielny was also very frustrating at times, took quite a while to get to his best. Had a couple seasons up there before the chronic health issues started Smh. Hopefully we can get a better ROI with Mustaphi cross fingers.
I think Koscielny’s struggles in the first season are overstated. He made a few very obvious mistakes but his overall perfomances were very good. To me anyway, it was obvious he would become an excellent defender once he bulked up and got used to the league, but I just don’t get the same impression from Mustafi. He doesn’t have the same basic speed and decisiveness as Kos did. Besides 1.75 seasons into his Arsenal career Koscielny was already up there with the best in the league, Mustafi is not. Not that he can’t be a competent defender in the right… Read more »
Precisely! Well said.
“You have to be very careful how you show up”. He had to go and jinx it. Cue incoming Mustafi disasterclass.
Perhaps Cech should yell at him in the tunnel pre-match?
Again before the 2nd half?
Couldn’t hurt.
jw1
the whole team and us watching should yell at him to keep his concentration
Mustafi is always a calamity waiting to happen. What with his alwaus throwing his hands up. I suggest an alarm buzz be wired in his ears/head that’s sounded anytime the thought of calamity comes to his head.
From Diehard Arsenal fans ehh???
Mustafi is one guy who blows hot and cold. We need him to step up when it matters. COYG!
I agree. We can only hope that tonight sees him deliver a hot blow job.
I expect a 2 nil Arsenal win. The events at Roma and MAdrid will keep our lads focused while the Southampton error will ensure Mustafi concentrates 150%. El Neny playing another 90mins is more of a worry for me.
Not much wrong with El Neny lately.
Mustafi seems to have a problem doing the safe but ugly thing. Hoof it into Row Z rather than hook it back into the danger zone. Very gifted player but seems to forget he’s a defender.
Can’t see how Neny could be worrying. Underwhelming, perhaps, but never worrying.
Make sure it doesnt happen to us, Musti.
Nothing surprises you except a football played into the box!!
Mustafi needs to stfu and concentrate on not being terrible at defending in football matches.
It would have been strange, though, to watch him sit silently as reporters asked him questions. Right? Never quite understand the anger at players fulfilling their media obligations.
Arsenal fan ???
Because fans can’t criticise players who aren’t good enough for the team they support? It’s like talking to children.
FFS just safety first. No fancy back past back into our box or waiting for the keeper to make up his mind. When in doubt, clear everything in front of you. He’s been great with a host of critical blocks and stops over last 10 games but he’s switched off last two games. That said, warning served midweek BOTH Roma AND Juve (almost but for the twit Oliver) If we go in to defend alone, we are asking for trouble. This team does not do well sitting deep and putting the defense under duress. Best thing to do is to… Read more »
About time we get a decent goalie