
News
Three changes Arsenal should make after the international break
Start developing the Mustafi-Koscielny partnership
24-year-old Shkodran Mustafi may not be a household name yet, but he is a quality defender who has now made the step up to a Champions League team after his £35 million move from Valencia.
He is sound on the ball, and likes to play, but is also a tactically astute defender who will not muck about in a dangerous situation. Most importantly, though, he is positionally excellent, and should eventually compliment the similar Laurent Koscielny.
Koscielny is one of the paciest centre-backs in the Premier League and has spent the last few seasons sweeping up behind Per Mertesacker. Mustafi will lighten this workload for Koscielny and allow Arsenal to defend more on the front foot and not worry about their high line.
This has the makings of a really good partnership, but Wenger must start building it now in order to get through any teething problems as quickly as possible.