Mustafi Makes Case For The Defence

Shkodran Mustafi believes Wednesday’s Europa League final between Arsenal and Chelsea will be won and lost in defence. The showpiece in Baku between the two Premier League contenders will feature some of Europe’s finest attacking talents as Eden Hazard, Pedro, Mesut Ozil and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang compete to win a major trophy – and in Arsenal’s case to also qualify for the Champions League.

Mustafi and his team-mates convincingly outscored Chelsea, whose total of 63 league goals was 10 less than Arsenal’s amid accusations they had become one dimensional in the final third, but they conceded 12 more and instead finished outside of the top four. “It is about how we start the game and which team is going to be more organised,” he said.

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“We know each other very well and we play a lot of games against each other. They know our weaknesses; we know their weaknesses and it is about who is going to make the fewest mistakes. It is going to be very tight. “But I believe in my team and every single player and I believe we are good enough to beat them.

“Even when you play against Chelsea, it’s the Europa League, it’s a final so it’s going to be different than the games we played in the Premier League. “It’s going to be a game where one mistake punishes you and that’s why we’ve got to be very careful. “Our job as defenders is to try not to concede but if you make 90 per cent of your job and in the 10 per cent the opponent scores, people forget about the 90 per cent.”

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