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Arteta keen to help Mustafi improve as a defender.

Updated: Nov 20, 2023

Mikel Arteta is keen on helping Arsenal defender Shkodran Mustafi improve his all round performance.


Mustafi‘s error against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge led to David Luiz receiving a red card for his tackle on Tammy Abraham early in the match that eventually ended in a 2-2 draw.


However, Arteta says he was pleased with how Mustafi reacted despite his mistake against the Blues.


“I don’t believe that at 27 you cannot improve certain aspects of the game, I really believe you can,” Arteta said.


“I work with players like this and I have team-mates like this and there is always a moment where there is a click. I can accept a mistake, no problem.


“What I’m not going to accept is somebody makes a mistake and after he stops playing, and he doesn’t want the ball and doesn’t want to make decisions. That player is not acceptable for our team.


“But Musti after that (mistake), he tried to play every single time, he went for every single challenge and put his body on the line. He was down afterwards but he reacted and if he does that, he will overcome the situation.



“I ask him to play the way we want to play. He makes mistake, another day it will be someone else. Obviously we want to minimise that as quick as possible and find the reason why that happens, but I like his reaction after that.”


When asked whether the German, who signed for the Gunners in 2016 for a reported fee of £35m, has a long-term future at the club, Arteta replied: “When he is my player and when he is training with me the way he does every day, of course.


“The plans maybe in the summer were different with him. I came here, he is here and his attitude is always right and he wants to help.


“Yes he made a mistake, but it’s OK. I like more the reaction and I look more at the reaction.”


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