CONFIDENCE IN NEW CATCH

Arsene Wenger is confident Shkodran Mustafi will provide a much-needed boost to Arsenal’s defensive ranks after completing his switch from Valencia on Tuesday.

Mustafi had long been linked with a move to Emirates Stadium during this transfer window, and Wenger finally got his man for a reported fee of £35million.

He joins an Arsenal squad currently shorn of Gabriel Paulista and Per Mertesacker through injury, so Mustafi could be thrown straight into action after the international weekend when Wenger’s men host Southampton.

And Wenger has no doubt the 24-year-old is ready for his first taste of Premier League football.

“He is a very intelligent boy, that was important in my decision,” the Frenchman told Arsenal Player.

“He is very focused, and he knows the rigorous climate of the Premier League and how much you have to fight for every game.

“I know as well he is a player who can play with the ball as well. That is important for us, and all this quality made me decide to try and get him.

“The player wanted to join us as well, and I think he will hopefully be happy here and will enforce our squad. It puts us in a good position.

“The fact he decided to join us shows he was certainly conscious of what was expected of him. We will not have a bad surprise and that shows you as well that he is not scared to take a challenge on.”

Meanwhile, Serge Gnabry has left Arsenal and completed a permanent switch to Werder Bremen.

Germany Under-21 international Gnabry, who won a silver medal with his country at Rio 2016, came through the academy at Arsenal before making 10 Premier League appearances for the club.

After spending last season on loan at West Brom, the winger has now transferred to Werder, despite reports he would sign for Bayern Munich and move to the north west on loan.

Gnabry revealed Arsenal team-mates Per Mertesacker and Mesut Ozil spoke positively of their respective spells at the Bundesliga club, helping convince him to sign.

Upon his presentation to the media on Wednesday, Gnabry said: “I’m very happy to be here. Per Mertesacker and Mesut Ozil have only said positive things about the club.

“I had very good talks with the management and that has led me here to Werder and the Bundesliga.

“I’m confident we will have a successful season and push for the top half of the table.

“I’ve come to Bremen to get playing time, to develop further and to help the team.”

Sporting director Frank Baumann asserted Bremen now have sole ownership of Gnabry, who provides a boost to their attacking options.

“There aren’t any agreements with other clubs. Again, Serge Gnabry is our player. We have bought him,” said Baumann.

“He will enhance our attacking game. We are proud to have convinced him to join. We don’t want to put too much pressure on him, we’ll give him time.”

Ahead of Gnabry’s arrival, Bremen announced defender Leon Guwara has joined Darmstadt on loan for the remainder of the season.