Arsenal defender Shkodran Mustafi has suggested that some of the criticism of his performances over the past year has been undeserved.
Despite making 118 appearances in all competitions since joining the Gunners in 2016, Mustafi has now lost his place in the team after a number of mistakes and below-par displays.
However, despite acknowledging that there have been times when he has been at fault, the German has claimed that some of the negative comments have been 'irrational'.
The 27-year-old told Der Spiegel: "In the first two years after my move to Arsenal in 2016, things went very well for me. I saw myself as a good performer, but shortly after Christmas 2018, there was an injury. I've made a few mistakes, and they've created a mess that I've never experienced before.
"I was out injured for three weeks and went into the game [against Liverpool, in December 2018] without training with the team because the coach needed me. It was 1-4 at half time, I didn't look good and injured myself again.
"Afterwards, I got a lot of negative comments from Arsenal fans on Instagram and Twitter and was harshly criticised in articles. I'm self-critical enough to realise that I made mistakes. I can also deal with tough criticism.
"But the criticism has become escalated and irrational. I have become a target. At one point, people even blamed me for a defeat in a game I had not played in. There were days when I really doubted myself. But at some point I realised that I am mentally strong."
Mustafi has featured in just three games this season, helping Arsenal keep clean sheets against Eintracht Frankfurt, Standard Liege and Nottingham Forest respectively.
Darren Plant
