Talk of Shkodran Mustafi being booed during Arsenal’s 3-0 pre-season win over Colorado Rapids in the early hours of Tuesday morning has shown the brutal side of Arsenal’s fanbase.
Mustafi was said to have been subject to jeers following the announcement of his appearance as he came on in the second half, captaining the side towards a routine victory.
But rumours of the German being jeered at by his own fans during the game in Denver has angered parts of the fanbase, with supporters criticising each other for failing to give the centre-back the backing they felt he deserved.
As one fan in particular pointed out, the current situation at the back for Arsenal – with no incomings in that position and Laurent Koscielny effectively on strike – means that Mustafi, while guilty of some high-profile errors throughout his Arsenal career, could yet become a key player for The Gunners next season and therefore warranting of the fans’ encouragement.
However, some of the responses to that stance may have been a little surprising – with some supporters backing the decision of others to boo one of their own players:
What do you expect though? Fans certainly aren’t going to cheer him, just a build up of frustration for a long time
— Hummza (@hummzak) July 16, 2019
Everyone has the right to boo whoever they want… let us be!!
— KAY???????? (@Caleb_OA3) July 16, 2019
really? please look on his performance against Palace. This match costed us TOP4 and it is the reason why we have just 45m budget. I really want to see Mavro or Bielik instead of him. Do you think that they’ll be worse than him? Come on.
— Krzysztof S?dkiewicz (@kysio2607) July 16, 2019
He cost us the champions league so he deserve, you pay for what you earned.
— Shadie Toleigh (@ShadieToleigh) July 16, 2019
Wrong mentality for a poorly managed club. We need to voice our opinions.
If a player doesn’t deserve to wear our shirt, he should be booed when he does. That’s the only thing we can do as fans to let the management know how we feel.— Nimrod Lustgarten (@Nim_Lustgarten) July 16, 2019
The guy cost us a top four place and isn’t good enough or should I say playing at the level we require. He’s a senior player on big money and doesn’t perform. Accepting his mediocrity is what keeps us as a mid table club.
— Thomas M. (@Quantum_King) July 16, 2019
It will help if he finally realised he’s not wanted at the club and leaves
— Just an opinion (@LammyG81) July 16, 2019
While I do not support booing our own player..interestingly, i find a part of me supports it, this team needs serious heat… So when the players step into the pitch they know they’re about to play in front of an overwhelming, intimidating fans…
— AGHOLOR RAYMOND (@e847994e9ca7425) July 16, 2019
Mustafi could be left out of the team and the tea lady could play instead, we wouldn’t leak any more goals than when he plays, plus we wouldn’t give away as many penalties
— crabbit (@Crabbit14) July 16, 2019
