Arsenal defender Shkodran Mustafi: I know £35m price tag can be a burden but I couldn't influence this
- Arsenal news: All the latest from the Emirates
- Shkodran Mustafi has enjoyed a successful start to his career at Arsenal
- 24-year-old has formed a strong partnership with Laurent Koscielny
- Mustafi says he could not influence £35million price tag on his shoulders
- German defender is in squad to face Czech Republic and Northern Ireland
Shkodran Mustafi acknowledges that Arsenal paid a substantial fee in signing him from Valencia during the summer, but the Germany international is keen to let his performances do the talking.
Mustafi has been an ever-present in the Premier League for the Gunners since making his £35million move in August, helping his side achieve three straight clean sheets in all competitions.
The 24-year-old, who was released by Everton in 2012 under David Moyes, began to fulfil his potential initially at Sampdoria before his move to Valencia, where a £42.1m release clause was put in his contract.
Shkodran Mustafi joined Arsenal for £35million from Valencia towards the end of August
Mustafi featured for Germany during Euro 2016, scoring in the 2-0 victory over Ukraine
Mustafi, who took to Twitter to apologise for man-handling referee Craig Pawson in his attempts to make a point in the 1-0 win over Burnley, expressed his desire to return to the Premier League and to work with Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger.
The German revealed that he left it for his agent and the La Liga club to push through the move.
He told German newspaper Bild: 'I wanted Arsenal, everything else I left to be negotiated between the clubs. Of course, this is an incredible sum (41 million euros).
'And I know what a burden that can bring. Some people live on 200 to 300 euros per month. Especially in my second home in Gostivar (Republic of Macedonia). But I could not influence this. So I push it far away out of my head.'
The 24-year-old defender has helped the Gunners keep two Premier League clean sheets
Mustafi produced a string of impressive displays in a struggling Valencia side last season
Mustafi is currently away on international duty with his country, but the 6ft centre half admits he could well have been representing a different nation had he not been drafted into Germany's various different age groups.
Mustafi, who is also eligible to represent Macedonia or Albania, added: 'I was born in Bad Hersfeld. Germany is my home, my parents and my siblings live in Bebra, where I grew up.
'When the DFB then invited me as a teenager to the first courses, I did not think twice. From the Under-15s I have gone through all the German representative teams.'
Germany are currently top of their World Cup qualifying group having won their opening game 3-0 away to Norway in September.
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