SHKODRAN MUSTAFI has become a huge presence in the Arsenal dressing room, Arsene Wenger has revealed.
Mustafi joined Arsenal from Valencia in August for £35million after prolonged transfer negotiations.
The Germany international looked like he wasn't going to sign due to reported disagreements about his transfer fee
However, Arsene Wenger has admitted he's glad the 24-year-old eventually put pen to paper, revealing he has become a huge vocal presence in the team.
"Laurent Koscielny is the leader because he is captain but Mustafi looks like he is taking leadership as well at the back," Wenger said.
"What is surprising is how quickly he has integrated into the team at the back and how quickly they have formed a pair that works well together.
"Mustafi is a player who is highly focused. On that front he is a typical German.
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"He wants to do the job well every day and he speaks his mind. He is vocal in the dressing room.
"He is not a quiet guy who hides. He speaks out with his opinion and communicates a lot.
"Even when you isolate the pictures of the game and look at that he speaks a lot during the game."
"What makes me positive is he is focused, has the desire to do well, and is 24 years old - for a central defender that is quite young.
"Let's see how he survives in games like against Sunderland, where it is a case of 'Can I head the ball? Can I win the second ball?'
"I would say I have a positive feeling."