Arsenal have ‘already won a title’ this season says Shkodran Mustafi

Despite the club appearing destined to finish second, former Arsenal defender Shkodran Mustafi claims the Gunners have ‘already won a title’ this season.

Earlier in the season, the Gunners led the Premier League by eight points, but Manchester City has reclaimed the lead as a result of a late surrender.

Arsenal hasn’t won in their previous four Premier League games and most recently suffered a 4-1 defeat against City, who are now two points ahead with two games remaining.

Mikel Arteta’s club appears to be doomed to finish the season without any hardware, having failed to go past all previous competitions, unless a last-minute twist occurs.

Mustafi, a former center back for Arsenal, claims that his former team’s return to the Champions League for the first time in seven years next season counts as a title.

The 31-year-old even stated that Arsenal’s improvement this year surpasses Leicester City’s feat of winning the Premier League in 2016 against all odds at 5000-1.

‘Arsenal haven’t played in the Champions League since Arsene Wenger left the club,’ Mustafi told Sky Germany.

‘In my view, the positive development that the club have gone through under Arteta is almost more important than winning the league just once and then not being able to build on it, like Leicester City did after winning the title in 2016.

‘I think Arsenal have already won a title in which they play in the Champions League again next year because that’s where the club belongs.

‘Of course, Arsenal want to win the league after a season like the current one. But the goal will be to play at the top for the next few years and not just win the Premier League once.’

Arsenal return to action on Tuesday when they face Chelsea at the Emirates.