Arsenal

Nacho Monreal: 'Shkodran Mustafi will easily adapt at Arsenal'

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 08 September 2016

Nacho Monreal expects Shkodran Mustafi to hit the ground running if given the nod to start Arsenal's Premier League meeting with Southampton on Saturday.

Arsenal defender Nacho Monreal has backed teammate Shkodran Mustafi to quickly adapt to his new surroundings when making his debut this weekend.

The Germany international, who completed a £35m move to the Emirates Stadium from Valencia last week, is expected to start against Southampton on Saturday after being declared fit.

Mustafi will need to hit the ground running if Arsenal are to make it back-to-back wins when the Saints visit North London, and Monreal is confident that the former Everton man boasts the quality to do exactly that.

"He will find it easy to adapt to the club. He has already lived abroad, he speaks the language and he knows Mesut Ozil," he told the club's official website.

"All those elements will lessen the impact of changing environments. Luckily for him, he will feel at home from the very first day. Mustafi is a player I like. He is experienced and really tough to beat, which makes him very suitable for the Premier League's style.

"We really needed to bring a centre back to the club considering Per Mertesacker and Gabriel [Paulista]'s injuries, as well as Calum Chambers' departure on loan. I hope he feels happy here from the very beginning so he can do for us what he does best."

Mustafi made a switch to Arsenal as part of a double signing, with Lucas Perez also joining the club from Deportivo La Coruna for around £17m before the transfer window closed.