With Arsenal having spent more than ever in one transfer window in the Premier League, and with some decent reinforcements coming in to the Emirates, the focus of discussion all over the internet has now shifted to how people in the world of football have reacted to Arsenal’s new signings. Here, we take a look at Arsenal Legend Jens Lehmann’s take on new signing Shkodran Mustafi.
In a report in The Sport Review, Lehmann has been quoted claiming his ‘surprise’ at Arsene Wenger breaking the bank to sign German international Shkodran Mustafi, who joined the Gunners towards the end of the transfer window for £35m, making him Arsenal’s joint second most expensive signing alongside Alexis Sanchez and behind club record signing Mesut Ozil.
Lehmann, who made 148 appearances for Arsenal between 2003 and 2008 and went onto win 3 major titles with the Gunners, had this to say on the Mustafi move:
“It’s unlike Arsenal to sign a defender for almost €40m – I’m surprised.
“I think he [Wenger] is probably the most successful manager in making money for the club.”
“He’s always taken part in the Champions League, buying cheap and selling expensive.”
“He was a major player in setting up the new stadium and at the same time always playing Champions League football.”
Lehmann’s view seems to a little surprising, however accurate it may be in terms of what the club have done in the past.
It is quite evident to anyone who has come across this that Lehmann has not kept up with the times. Arsenal are to everyone’s knowledge, not in the kind of debt they were while the club sold it’s best players to build on the stadium. The club no longer need to sell their best players, and are also in a position to buy new ones. Arsenal have spent close to 90m in the transfer market, which is among the highest in the transfer market behind the two Manchester clubs and marginally behind London rival Chelsea.
Mustafi signing for this kind of money should not surprise anyone. I honestly do not understand how this has surprised anyone, least of all Jens Lehmann.
