Ozil convinced Mustafi to join Arsenal

Arsenal newboy Shkodran Mustafi has revealed the catalyst for his decision to swap his native Germany for the Emirates Stadium was a conversation with compatriot Mesut Ozil.

The Gunners’ newest defender is an international team-mate of Ozil, and says the pair spoke about the club while at Euro 2016.

Mustafi experienced a protracted transfer saga over the summer, with Arsenal initially reluctant to meet his reported £42m buyout clause.

Finally, on the last day of the summer window, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger made his move and secured the defender’s signature for £35m – making the German the Gunners’ joint second-highest piece of transfer window business ever with Alexis Sanchez.

The former Valencia man suffered an ankle injury during Germany’s fixture with Finland last week but is expected to be fit and available for selection for Saturday’s game with Southampton.

(Martin Bureau/AFP/Getty Images)

That game comes just three days before Wenger’s side face the toughest test of their upcoming Champions League group, away to Paris St Germain.

But Mustafi is determined to get cracking and make his mark in north London.

“We were at the European Championship and we had time to speak,” he said.

“He told me about the club, about the team, and the things that he told me made me come here.

“I noticed that it’s a club where I can develop, where I can grow as a player.

“He said that he’s happy here, that the people are crazy for football and that it’s a team that enjoys playing football the way that he does, the way that I do.”