By Kristan Heneage

Shkodran Mustafi will be a perfect fit at Arsenal, according to thedefender’s former Everton teammate Jose Baxter.

Mustafi, 24, completed a £35million summer move to the Gunners afterimpressing for Spanish side Valencia. Formerly of Everton, he leftGoodison Park after three years with the club, and would makeonly one appearance for the Toffees in the Europa League. Unable tobreak into the first team, with a list of more experienced defenders blocking his path to the starting line-up, Mustafi was still able to convince striker Baxter of his talent and potential, despite not impressing David Moyes with obvious ability.

“As soon as he came in you could tell he was talented,” Baxter told ITV News. “He wasn’t the biggest but he could definitely play. Alan Stubbs was the manager [of the reserves] at the time, who was a defender himself, andhe taught him about the basics of defending; heading and kicking. He[Mustafi] was more of a get down on his chest and play sort ofdefender, because he can really play. He was always the one that wasworking hard in training. He would practice free-kicks and penaltiesafterwards because he was that good technically.

“He used to live by mine, but he never used to go out in Liverpool. Iused to hang out with him most days. We’d meet up and go into trainingand he was just a genuinely nice lad. He always tried to get involvedwith the lads, and he’d try to pick the accent up. He always wanted tolearn, on and off the pitch. He was a top lad really.”

Mustafi has moved on to become a key member of the Germany team. Credit: PA

The Germany international eventually left the north west for Italianside Sampdoria where he enjoyed a successful two-year spell.Subsequently sold onto Valencia, it was of little surprise to Baxterthat his former teammate went onto bigger things.

“I wasn’t surprised when he left Everton really. He wasn’t reallyplaying, and I think he got to the age where he thought I want to getout and start playing games and not sitting around doing nothing. Thatwas the kind of lad he was, so I wasn’t surprised when he left, but itwas good thing that he left and obviously go on to go where he’sgone.”

Jose Baxter came up through the ranks with Mustafi. Credit: PA

“I think football is like that, your life can turn around in a shortspace of time,” he said. “I honestly think he’ll suit them greatthere. He can really play, and once he settles in he’ll do well.Arsenal are a footballing team and they like to get it down. In alittle way he’s like John Stones. They’re defenders, but they couldplay in defensive midfield and play football."

After learning his football in England and honing his skills abroad, Mustafi returns to the Premier League more mature and capable of becoming the missing piece om Arsenal's jigsaw.