DEFENDER RELISHING BEING BACK

VSHKODRAN MUSTAFI says this season has been one of the toughest of his career.

The Germany defender was derided by Arsenal fans for his displays under Unai Emery, the former boss who told him he could leave, only for the Spaniard to go first.

Mustafi has also had to fight his way back into the team as Mikel Arteta shuffled his pack after taking charge in December.

The centre-half put his body on the line on Thursday to help the Gunners claim a fourth clean sheet under Arteta, below, and a 1-0 win in a Europa League last 32, first-leg tie at Olympiakos.

Mustafi said: “In the beginning of the season, not being selected, not making the squad, it was difficult.

“But I am a person who tries to see more the positive things than the negatives.

“Having my family around me – my kids, my wife – that’s something I kept remembering.

“I am happy now, for the team as well, because it is doing great.

“We get paid so well we have to be professional at times when things are good, but as well at times when things are not as good as you want them to be.”

Mustafi never believed his Arsenal career was finished despite his treatment by Emery.

“If you think things are over for you, then you should retire,” he said. “That’s not like you should think as a professional.

“You always get opportunities and a team has more than 20 players for a reason. There is a lot of competition, there are a lot of games and everyone in the team is needed.

“The main thing for me was to be professional because as long as you stay professional, you have no fault for anything.

“You wait until you get your next opportunity and then obviously you have to take it.

“I don’t like too much to talk about the manager. I knew Unai before he came because when I was playing at Valencia he was the coach at Sevilla.

“He is a brilliant coach and I have always respected him