Shkodran Mustafi missed out on Schalke’s 4-0 drubbing at the hands of Borussia Dortmund on Saturday after picking up an injury.

Schalke's German defender Shkodran Mustafi (L) speaks with Schalke's German defender Timo Becker during the German first division Bundesliga football match between 1 FC Union Berlin and FC Schalke 04 in Berlin on February 13, 2021. (Photo by ANNEGRET HILSE / POOL / AFP)
Schalke’s German defender Shkodran Mustafi (L) speaks with Schalke’s German defender Timo Becker during the German first division Bundesliga football match between 1 FC Union Berlin and FC Schalke 04 in Berlin on February 13, 2021. (Photo by ANNEGRET HILSE / POOL / AFP)

The former Arsenal defender has enjoyed a mixed start to life in Germany.

He’s seen his new manager express doubts about his performances and also been voted in the team of the week. Now, he’s injured, picking up a muscular problem in the warmup ahead of Schalke’s game against Borussia Dortmund.

Perhaps Mustafi knew what was coming.

Dortmund ran out 4-0 winners thanks to two Erling Braut Haaland goals (Arsenal scouted EBH and even had him and his father over to London Colney) plus one each from Raphael Guerreiro and Jadon Sancho.

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Mustafi has played a total of 180 minutes for Schalke as he looks to earn a permanent deal in the summer, neither of which the Germans won. They lost 3-0 at home to RB Leipzig in Mustafi’s first game and then drew 0-0 at Union Berlin.

Mustafi left Arsenal in January with both sides agreeing to terminate his contract. His deal in Germany only runs to the summer.

Shkodran Mustafi won WhoScored’s Bundesliga Player of the Week award last week for his performance at the weekend, keeping a clean sheet.

Schalke's German defender Shkodran Mustafi (L) and Union Berlin's German defender Niko Giesselmann vie for the ball during the German first division Bundesliga football match between 1 FC Union Berlin and FC Schalke 04 in Berlin on February 13, 2021. (Photo by ANNEGRET HILSE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Schalke’s German defender Shkodran Mustafi (L) and Union Berlin’s German defender Niko Giesselmann vie for the ball during the German first division Bundesliga football match between 1 FC Union Berlin and FC Schalke 04 in Berlin on February 13, 2021. (Photo by ANNEGRET HILSE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

WhoScored announced on Tuesday morning that Shkodran Mustafi was their Bundesliga Player of the Week. They highlighted his clean sheet, 10 of 12 aerial duels won, eight clearances, and three interceptions from his individual performance on Saturday.

Schalke drew the match 0-0 with Union Berlin, so it wasn’t a perfect day for the former Arsenal man. But it was their first clean sheet in six games, so at least it’s something to build on.

Sead Kolasinac also featured in the match, trying to help a Schalke side desperate for results. As we’ve covered previously, they’re nine points (and a goal difference swing) away from safety at the moment and have only picked up nine points in 21 games so far.

Schalke and Mustafi aren’t going to have things any easier this week, as they host Borussia Dortmund on Saturday at 17:30 GMT.

At least things seem to be going alright for the German international so far. It wasn’t working out at all in North London, but perhaps he’ll have a fresh start back in his home country.

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