Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has brought about a remarkable resurgence in Shkodran Mustafi’s form after it seemed the German was on the way out of the Emirates under previous manager Unai Emery.
Emery had dropped Mustafi from the match day squad altogether and told him he was free to leave but Arteta has placed his faith in the 27-year-old and is delighted with his performances.
“I put my trust in him, I speak to him and try to understand what was happening,” he revealed. “I try to give [my players] answers and solutions and then it up to the players.
“It is not me that plays, it is him that makes the effort and the decisions. So far he has been really good.”
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With his contract due to expire at the end of next season, Mustafi’s long term future is still up in the air but he indicated he was willing to stay after the Gunners’ 1-0 win in the Europa League against Olympiakos.
“If you think things are over for you, then you should retire,” he said. “That’s not like you should think as a professional. You always get the opportunities and a team has more than 20 players for a reason.
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“The main thing for me was to be professional because as long as you stay professional, you have no fault for anything. Stay professional, wait until you get your next opportunity and then obviously you have to take it.
“In the beginning of the season, not being selected, not making the squad, it has been difficult. But I am a person who tries to see more the positive things than the negatives.”
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When asked if he was hoping to extend his Arsenal contract, Mustafi replied: “Why not? I have always taken things day by day.
“I always gave everything until the last minute and when I decide or when the club and I decide it is going to continue I am happy to continue. If not then we have to go forward.”
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