With Alexis Sanchez taking up 90% of our Twitter feed’s yesterday, we almost forgot about Shkodran Mustafi’s move to Inter Milan completely collapsing.
In a similar scenario to the Alexis saga, Wenger wanted a replacement in the shape of Jonny Evans before he would give the green light to Mustafi to join the Italian side on a loan deal.
When the news initially broke that Mustafi wasn’t in Wenger’s plans this season, the boss faced an almighty uproar of frustrated supporters who couldn’t see any long-term gain.
The permanent sale of Gabriel and possibility of loaning Mustafi meant Arsenal would’ve been thin on the ground when it comes to defensive reinforcement between Europa League games.
But in the end, a deal couldn’t be finalised for Mustafi and he’ll now come back to London Colney to a frosty reception from the boss, who will want the 25-year-old to prove he was wrong.
Here’s some of the best reaction to Mustafi staying…
Chamberlain out, Pérez out on loan, Gibbs out, Alexis & Mustafi staying but they don’t want it tbh, failed Lemar bid. All that. Shambles.
— Fouad (@FouadAFC) August 31, 2017
Mustafi now staying, that will be unnecessarily awkward in training next week..
— Aido (@HandofHenry) August 30, 2017
Maybe Mustafi & Perez were never Arsene’s choice and now he is staying he is clearing out the players forced on him
— Memz (@FTR90_Memz) August 26, 2017
Our best XI now that Mustafi is staying:
Cech
Holding – Koscielny – Monreal
Bellerin – Xhaka – Ramsey – Kolasinac
Ozil – Alexis
Lacazette— Curt (@Curt_goff) September 1, 2017
Imagine how Shkodran Mustafi is feeling today… #Arsenalhttps://t.co/ZhXH9CjXpM
— Josh Challies (@Challies11) August 31, 2017
The Mustafi thing is really, really weird. Feels like Arsene is making a point about some of the Stat DNA signings.
— gunnerblog (@gunnerblog) August 26, 2017
Looks like Mustafi will stay. Delighted at that.
Was suicidal to think we’d loan him out, top defender. Deserves a 2nd season. pic.twitter.com/gPIId0PPZk
— The Arsenal (@DareToWenger) August 30, 2017
Mustafi was leaving & now looks to stay, always worrying keeping players who don’t want to be here. A defender should be coming in. #Arsenal
— El Comandante (@ElComandante84) August 31, 2017
With Mustafi not wanting to stay, doesn’t that prove Wenger and the board have clearly lost the dressing room? #Arsenal
— Mitchy Carter (@MitchyCarter12) August 31, 2017