The Arsenal defender acknowledges his time spent on Merseyside
Arsenal defender Shkodran Mustafi has paid credit to his spell at Everton earlier in his career as the reason for his impressive start to life with the Gunners this season, speaking to the Daily Star.
The former Valencia man who made the £35m move to North London in August, spent three years at Goodison Park between 2009 and 2012.
The German centre-back explained that his difficult spell with The Toffees made him mature and prepared the defender for the physicality of the Premier League the second time around.
Mustafi told the Daily Star: “It made me grow up. From a boy I became a man. I am only 24 but already I have played in Italy, Germany, Spain and England. I’ve tried to really take some of the style of the different countries.”
In that period, the 24 year-old went without a single top-flight appearance. Indeed, his only competitive match for Everton was as a second-half substitute for Tony Hibbert in a 0-1 home defeat to BATE Borisov in the UEFA Europa League.
After leaving Merseyside, Mustafi spent two years in Serie A with Sampdoria and a further two with Los Che, before returning to England with Arsenal.
Despite a difficult spell at Everton, Mustafi is still thankful for the time he spent under David Moyes.
“When I came to England I was quite young,” he added. “I was 17 and that’s not easy when you come to a different country with a different language, culture and style in football.
“The main thing was I grew up. The way you play football here, the way you don’t have excuses for things made me grow up.”
In his second spell in the Premier League the German defender has hit the ground running and has formed a physical but mobile partnership with Laurent Koscielny. Since arriving at The Emirates Stadium, the two have formed a solid defensive unit.
Mustafi is yet to taste defeat in an Arsenal shirt, conceding just three goals over six games in all competitions. Arsene Wenger’s side have not had a goal scored against them in 270 minutes of football.
Also remarkably, the Gunners have seen just one yellow card in their outfield back line – for Nacho Monreal – since the German’s arrival.
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