Shkodran Mustafi was told he ‘can leave’ Arsenal, says Unai Emery

Arsenal defender Shkodran Mustafi has been told he is free to leave the club.

Unai Emery has admitted he told the German that he can leave the Emirates.

Is this the end of Mustafi’s Arsenal career? Five key things to know…

• Mustafi joined the Gunners from Valencia in 2016.
• He played 30 times last season in the Premier League
• Mustafi has been criticised for making costly, high-profile errors.
• Emery admitted he told the player he can leave the club.
• The Spaniard also revealed his confidence in the player should he be required, however.

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The 27-year-old is deemed as surplus to requirements by Unai Emery following the additions of David Luiz and Kieran Tierney this summer.

The Spanish coached revealed he has teld talks with the defender in which leaving the club was discussed as an option.

“I spoke with him when we finished last season,” the Spaniard told reporters. “I spoke with him when we started pre-season and I spoke with him also two weeks ago saying maybe there was the possibility he can leave.

“We decided to be more competitive in each position, at centre-back with David Luiz, with another player in the middle with (Dani) Ceballos, with Kieran Tierney, with (Nicolas) Pepe.

“I think being more competitive we can respond better in the season. Some players maybe they can play less with that situation and can leave.

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Emery aiming for ‘winning mentality’

The Arsenal coach wants the squad to be competitive this season in order to deal with the huge number of games the Gunners will have this season, as they look to compete on four fronts during 2019/20.

Despite Mustafi being booed by a section of his own supporters in pre-season, the Spaniard revealed he needs a winning mentality at the club and players who have the confidence required to perform.

“We have a big responsibility,” said Emery. “The responsibility is to give them the best possibility to be with us with confidence.

“Some supporters can believe in or like one player more than another player, that’s normal.

“But inside I want to be strong and to create a big squad with a big, competitive, winning mentality and above all, one with confidence in each other.

“If he [Mustafi] needs to play, he can help us with confidence.”