Arsenal defender Shkodran Mustafi has been criticised by former Gunners’ player Paul Merson. The defender, who signed from Valencia for £35 million in 2016, has come under fire after months of poor performances.
Merson, who appears on Sky Sports as a pundit, believes former Manchester United and Valencia coach Gary Neville would have informed the Red Devils to sign Mustafi, if he was “any good”.
Mustafi has been heavily criticised by pundits and his play has been called “embarrassing” in recent weeks. Mustafi has failed to bed-in to the Gunners, and looked likely of leaving last summer. However, a transfer never materialised and Mustafi remained at the Emirates.
“They paid £35m for him,” Merson said.
“If he was any good, Gary Neville would have gone to Man United ‘I’ve got this lad at Valencia, he’s a centre half, he is unbelievable, you’ve got to go and get him’.”
Neville managed Mustafi during his short, failed reign at Valencia. The former Red Devil defender has also come out to blast Mustafi with criticism following the Carabao Cup.
“Mustafi has to be stronger than that,’”Neville said after the final. “That is pathetic defending.
“That is really bad from Mustafi and I think Ospina makes Aguero’s mind up for him.
“But for a centre back to claim that as a foul is absolutely terrible defending. It’s woeful from Mustafi.
“I’m not having that as a foul. It’s just really bad. It’s schoolboy stuff. It really is just shocking defending in all forms of football.”
Mustafi maintained that he was fouled during Sergio Aguero’s Carabao Cup Final goal.
Has Shkodran Mustafi’s play been that bad Arsenal Fans?
