Did Man City just help Arsenal secure Mustafi transfer?

A bit of a convoluted bit of Arsenal transfer gossip this, but if the roundabout way of it helps Arsenal to complete the signing of our defensive transfer target Shkodran Mustafi from Valencia then I do not really care too much how it gets done, as long as it gets done as soon as possible.

I would have liked the Gunners to show some real ambition in the market and at least challenge Pep Guardiola’s Man City for the talented young Everton and England centre back John Stones, but it was always a bit of a long shot and with Sky Sports reporting that City are paying almost £50 million for him you know that Arsene Wenger was never going to match that.

I do think, however, that Mustafi would be a very good addition for Arsenal and City signing Stones may just have helped us to get the deal done, as Metro are reporting that the player his Spanish club want to replace him is none other than Eliaquim Mangala, City’s last big money defensive purchase who has not done at all well since his move.

The arrival of Stones puts Mangala further down the pecking order so the chances of him leaving are pretty strong and if Valencia can get him it should prove a lot easier for Arsenal to get Mustafi.