Shkodran Mustafi launched an outspoken and angry siege-like defence of Arsenal’s character on Saturday, accusing critics of acting like the club was “dead”.

The Germany centre-back delivered a brilliant man-of-the-match performance in scoring in Arsenal’s 2-0 win but was clearly unimpressed to then be asked how close he came to leaving during the summer.

“You like to get the s***, the biggest s***,” he said to journalists. “What happens in the changing room is the real thing. I have been talking to clubs or if I haven’t, it’s only rumours. I’m here, I’m standing in front of you in an Arsenal shirt.”

Mustafi was clearly also well aware of how the current squad was questioned before this game about local pride and how much the North London derby meant to them.

He also claimed that a point had been proved about the team’s fighting spirit.

Team man: Shkodran Mustafi with Laurent Koscielny and Sead Kolasinac credit: Getty

“That’s you guys thinking it,” he said. “As always, Arsenal is dead, Arsenal is not coming back. We always are alive, we always believe in ourselves but we all know that if you win the big games but lose the small games you’re not going to finish top of the league or even in the top four. If you win today and lose next weekend you are back where you were.”

Mustafi was similarly blunt when asked about the futures of the two star players, Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez.

“You want everyone to leave don’t you?” he said. “We need the players, not everyone can leave. Obviously they are important and everyone in the team wants them to stay.

“If you look at what Mesut achieved, you have to give him credit and respect. It’s sometimes stupid to just go out and say ‘he’s not good enough, he’s not this or that’.”

Manager Arsene Wenger said that Mustafi was “a leader and a winner” and likened his vocal dressing-room influence to that of club captain Per Mertesacker.