EURO 2024Arsene Wenger: How I thought Arsenal's new signings fared against Southampton
ARSENE WENGER admits Shkodran Mustafi and Lucas Perez are still lacking match sharpness but was happy with their Arsenal debuts.
Posted Sunday, September 11, 2016 by Dailystar.co.uk
The duo, signed over the summer for a combined £52m, both started for the Gunners today in their 2-1 win over Southampton.
Wenger says the pair were not fully expecting just how difficult playing in the Premier League can be.
But the French boss was pleased with how they got on.
He said: "I feel both are short [of fitness] a bit, they lack competition and their second half was much better than their first half.
"They were a bit surprised by the pace and the commitment of the Premier League [but] they will adapt to that.
"As well, they were a bit on their nerves in the first half. In the second it was much better."
Wenger also believes his two new players need to be given more time to adapt to life in England.
He said: "He has had one game in La Liga, and then he didn’t play many more because they knew he would go.
IN ACTION: Arsenal signing Shkodran Mustafi
"Mustafi has only played one half since the start of the season with Valencia, so they are missing games."
Arsenal face Paris St-Germain in the Champions League on Tuesday night and Wenger hasn't made his mind up yet as to whether either Mustafi or Perez will feature.
He said: "I have to decide that. We will see how everyone is tomorrow morning.
"For Tuesday, we might just have Gibbs coming back, who was not in the squad today. It’s possible they are in the squad."
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