Shkodran Mustafi believes that winning trophies this season could be ‘written in the stars’ for Arsenal because of how well the team understand each other.

Now, of course, I don’t want to get in the way of Musti’s confidence, but I can’t help but think this is the sort of nonsense that comes back to bite you in the arse at the end of the season when all the legs have fallen off all the players and we’ve just secured fourth place ahead of Tottenham on the final day.

Asked why he seems to have found an instant understanding at the back with Laurent Koscielny, the 24 year old told the Membership Newsletter, “I think it’s because we see football in quite a similar way.

“We’re not trying to be just defenders – we try to start the game from the back, to play football and not just clear the ball. If you have the possibility to keep the ball on the pitch, then do so. Even when we’re trying to defend, we look to go forward too – not just drop, drop, drop and find yourself always in the box.

“I think they’re small details that show we see the game the same way, and then it makes everything easier because when I have to deal with a situation he knows how to react to cover me, and I’m the same. I see a situation and think, “He’s going to go,” because I know I could go as well, but then I can cover him.

“If you see the game with the same eyes it’s easier, and that’s what’s happening.”

“It’s not really only with Lolo,” he added.

“I think it’s like that with all the team.

“Right now we’re playing great football and it makes everything easier. Lots of the time we win the ball up in the first third, in the opponent’s half and that makes life for us defenders even easier.” 

“With everyone on the same page at the Emirates, perhaps winning trophies is written in the stars this season.

Mustafi is unbeaten as an Arsenal player – winning 9 and drawing 5 of his 14 games so far.

With that in mind, maybe it’s not really a crazy thing to say after all.