Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says defender Shkodran Mustafi’s future remains at the Emirates despite the German international having just six months left on his contract at the club.
The centre-back could leave on a free transfer in the summer and the January transfer window would be the last opportunity to get some money from his sale, but Arteta feels he needs him as an option at the back:
“His future right now is here. I’m trying to help. We have Papa that probably is going to leave the club in this window, William that has already gone on loan, so we don’t have that many right now.”
Mustafi’s lack of game time suggests the Gunners could probably do without him, and supporters on Twitter are not best pleased by Arteta’s decision to keep hold of the player:
Let him go, he is minus player .
— Faisal Farah Abdi (@PheisalU) January 14, 2021
aka No one will buy him ?
— DJ C (@itsdjc) January 14, 2021
Strange decision. I mean we know that Luiz back up Holding and Mari back up Gabriel. Sokratis will leave soon. Saliba gone on loan. Chambers and Mustafi hardly play. I am not negative but Arteta and board still make bad decisions (keep players)
— Craig ??????? (@KentEngland77) January 14, 2021
Im convinced that’s the Arsenal recruitment team is a bunch of 10 year olds who just downloaded football manger 2015
— Captain ? (@Xwasking) January 14, 2021
What about Calum Chambers? Did Arteta mention anything about him?
— PowerfulSami (@GeorgiosLambrou) January 14, 2021
We should cut our losses, get rid of 3 CBs and buy one of Southampton's.. ?
— Xhaka Can! (@darren_seaby) January 14, 2021
No one wants to sign him that's the problem. They have been struggling to offload him since Wenger left.
— Jâbbҿrwôcky® (@El_shatt_jnr) January 14, 2021
we can never beat this guy.
— ridh-waan (@_thedarklawd) January 14, 2021
It's the year 2050,mustafi is still an Arsenal player. Negotiating for anew contract. He's an important part of the team, say Arsenal coach Saka.
— RealSejo (@sejo113) January 14, 2021
— Kyle Lawrence (@chancrekyle) January 14, 2021
It is a surprise that Arteta is seemingly looking to keep the German. Although the Spaniard is right to point to William Saliba‘s loan exit, as well as Sokratis’s potential departure, there are still more than enough options in the squad without Mustafi.
In addition to Rob Holding, David Luiz, Gabriel and Pablo Mari, Calum Chambers can also play at centre-back. There is really no need to have six centre-halves at the club.