Mustafi to improve Arsenal?

Shkodran Mustafi joined Arsenal in a £35m deal from Valencia in the final week of the transfer window. Adam Bate examines the story and the stats behind the Gunners’ new defender and why he could be the right man to improve Arsene Wenger’s team…

Jack Wilshere’s transfer to Bournemouth was lauded by some as a brave move, a young man leaving the bubble of the club at which he’d grown up. But if travelling down the M3 is adventurous, consider the journey made by London Colney’s latest arrival Shkodran Mustafi.

Born to Albanian parents, Mustafi left his Hesse home aged 14 to seek success with Hamburg. He then moved to Everton as a 17-year-old before his desire to push on took him to Serie A with Sampdoria and La Liga with Valencia. He joins Arsenal as a 24-year-old World Cup winner more than ready for the challenge of the Premier League.

Mustafi has come a long way since those early days at Everton. He’d turned down Borussia Dortmund despite having a meeting with Jurgen Klopp in 2009, opting instead for a move to Goodison Park having been spotted playing in a friendly game in Scotland. He made his solitary appearance for the club in a Europa League tie against BATE Borisov soon after.

Most of Mustafi’s work came under the eye of Alan Stubbs and Andy Holden in Everton’s Under-21 side. “The main thing was that I grew up,” he explained. “From a boy, I became a man.” Speaking to Steve Round, the …

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