Arsenal: Mikel Arteta reacts to 1-0 loss to Leicester
Arsenal defender Shkodran Mustafi wants to extend his stay at the Emirates despite reports he rejected an extension in the summer. Mustafi's current contract expires at the end of this season. The Germany international has only recently returned from a serious hamstring injury he suffered in July.
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“When you hopefully get a few games, you can maybe look at the future but at the moment for me it has been difficult because in the last months, I haven’t really been thinking about the end of my contract or what’s going on with the future because all I wanted was to be back as quick as possible.
“I think I missed a few important games in the last months and I just wanted to be back as quick as possible, try and play a few games and then when the time comes, think about what’s next and hopefully we are going to have some news for you.
“At the moment I was just happy to come back from injury, it was three long months - I was happy just to come back and be able to play again.
“We haven't been talking about anything so there isn't anything I can tell you guys.
“Now for me it is important to just get a few games and get into the match rhythm and then see how it goes.”
Mustafi is likely to start against Dundalk and is in line to feature against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday following the thigh injury suffered by David Luiz.
And Arteta insists he has been happy with the centre-back since he became boss last December.
Arteta said: "I've been really happy with Musti since I joined and the progress that he's made, the performances that he's made.
Arsenal news: Shkodran Mustafi was injured for the FA Cup final win last season (Image: EXPRESS)
"It's true that he had a long-term injury and he's worked really hard to get back in that position where he is today and I just want him to show again the trust that we have in him and get the performances that we got in the past from him as well.
"I think there were a few cases when we joined in that position.
"What we tried to do was help the players as much as possible, encourage them to play with confidence, try to give them the right solutions and then it's up to them to show with their performances where they are."
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