Mustafi & Pérez — the Everton connection

The final week of a typically hectic transfer window has begun with Arsene Wenger confirming the two major names that have recently been linked to an imminent Arsenal medical. The first and most prominent of these is the Spanish sharpshooter Lucas Perez from Deportivo de la Coruna, whose 24 goals in 58 appearances for the club have garnered interest from several English clubs.

Though Everton appeared set to sign Perez, the lure of Champions League football has turned the Spaniard’s head, and he is now set to become a real source of competition for the currently unopposed striker Olivier Giroud. Giroud himself is reflecting on a poor finish to 2015/16 that has seen his value amongst the Arsenal faithful tumble.

Perez’ turn away from Goodison Park has had a mixed reaction from Evertonians, whose collective expectations have been heightened by the arrival of Iranian billionaire Farhad Moshiri. While his vision and versatility on the wing and in attack is very much in keeping with the modern Premier League style, his hold up play and aerial presence currently lacks the killer instinct once so readily associated with Arsenal.

The second player looking set for an Arsenal move is ex-Evertonian Shkodran Mustafi. Having played only 15 minutes of a Europa League dead rubber against BATE Borisov in 2009, his departure from Everton was dismissed as little more than another promising youngster who simply didn’t make the grade.

From relative obscurity, Lucas Perez has become one of the 2016 transfer window’s biggest names. For the latest Arsenal odds, visit Matchbook.

It would be arguably the worst lapse of judgement from David Moyes during his Everton tenure. Strong performances from Mustafi, while Sampdoria were still a newly-promoted side, led him to Valencia and (later) establishment in a World Cup winning international team.

While Perez’ exact long-term role at Arsenal remains a matter of opinion, the acquisition of Mustafi appears to be an excellent solution to a problem that has gone unresolved for several seasons. For all his experience and composure, Per Mertesacker’s lack of pace is a common figure of fun on social media, while Laurent Koscielny and Gabriel have both suffered from bouts of inconsistency.

Due to injury and fitness issues, none of that trio featured in the 4-3 opening day defeat to Liverpool. That was a game which merely served to prove that Rob Holding and Hector Bellerin still fall short of the required standard to produce a title-winning season.

Unlike all of the aforementioned defenders, Mustafi’s trajectory has only ever soared upwards, and a progressive defender is sorely needed to provide competition for Arsenal’s established defenders.

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