Defender Shkodran Mustafi had a nightmare spell at Arsenal before his contract was terminated in January 2021, and he was one of the victims of a ruthless squad clearout under Mikel Arteta.
Arteta found himself on the verge of losing his job after a dismal run in 2020 saw Arsenal enter 2021 in the bottom half of the table, but the club stuck by the manager, in what has proven to be a masterstroke of a decision.
January 2021 saw the likes of Mustafi, Mesut Ozil and Sead Kolasinac axed from the squad, either on loan or by contract termination, but despite being culled, Mustafi has now praised Arsenal for sticking with Arteta during the difficult period.
Shkodran Mustafi praises Arsenal for Mikel Arteta decision
Speaking to Sky Sports Germany, Mustafi emphasised that managers need time to implement their ideas within a squad, and that Arsenal made the correct decision not to sack Arteta when results were really poor.
“Arteta was engaged in the time when I was still playing in London. He had success at short notice, brought the fresh breeze with him, but then Arsenal missed the Champions League for the first time in years and qualification for a European Cup,” Mustafi stated.
“Many had expected him to be fired, but Arsenal held on to him because they were convinced of him and his ideas.
“You need much longer to build something together. Football, tactics, everything is becoming more and more complex.
“To put everything in one denominator, the team, the club, is not enough for nine months. Arsenal has given Arteta time and provided him with the means to implement his ideas.
“Last season Arsenal was first for a long time and became runner-up, now the Gunners are once again leaders in the standings.
Mustafi then highlighted how Arsenal have successfully executed a long-term vision with Arteta.
“I believe that the club has managed to make everyone sit in a boat and sail in the same direction. Only this guarantees long-term success and only so you can set yourself apart from the others.
“The clubs have more and more resources, you can put together a team that may be better in the short term, but in the long term it is important that you maintain what you have created.”
Mustafi’s downfall at Arsenal
Mustafi had a difficult time at Arsenal since his arrival in 2016. After initially embarking on a long unbeaten run, he picked up an injury which then affected his form, and he never truly recovered.
Although the World Cup winner would occasionally deliver strong performances, he continually made high-profile errors in defence, and looked to be on the way out in Unai Emery’s last few months at the club.
Arteta’s arrival gave him a new lease of life, but he still failed to establish himself as a regular, and the arrival of Gabriel Magalhaes spelled a quiet end to an overall underwhelming spell at Arsenal.
He left Arsenal for FC Schalke before then joining Levante in Spain, and is now a free agent having suffered back to back relegations since departing the Emirates.
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