EPL Rumors: Mustafi Not Worried About Next Deal, Focused On Recalling Form

Shkodran Mustafi is back in action for Arsenal FC but expectedly not yet at full capacity. Regardless, the 28-year-old center-back plans to work himself back into shape. He got his first taste of action against Leicester City, spelling David Luiz at halftime.

“Well, at the moment, I was just happy to come back from injury. It was three long months--I was happy just to come back and be able to play again,” Mustafi said in a report by PA Media: Sport via Yahoo. “We haven’t been talking about anything so there isn’t anything I can tell you guys.”

Mustafi has endured a bumpy road with the Gunners. He arrived in 2016 but has managed to draw praise from Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta. He singled out the attitude and willingness of the German to align with the club’s goal, Arsenal.com reported.

“Mustafi’s attitude, the way he is training, attention levels, the questions he is asking, and how much he wants to help everybody has been really good since I joined,” Arteta said.

Mustafi knows that he has a long way to go. But being able to play on the field for the Gunners right now will do. Rather than delve into what the future holds, the German prefers to help his club for now and worry about that later.

The concern here is that Mustafi’s contract is expiring at the end of the season. Despite that reality, the 28-year-old wants to cross the bridge when he gets there.

But given the choice, the German did not deny that he would love to stay at Emirates Stadium if he had his way.

“It is a huge club, that’s why for me if I could stay at Arsenal, of course, it would mean a lot to me,” Mustafi said. “At the end of the day, it was important for me in the last three months to come back after the injury and to be ready to play and to help my team."

A new deal may hinge on how well he proves that he is back to his old self. And apparently, that is why Mustafi prefers to focus on playing and show Gunners management and followers that he can still be an asset moving forward.