Paul Merson handed Shkodran Mustafi a brutal farewell at Arsenal by claiming the German defender will disappoint after sealing a move to Schalke.
The 28-year-old centre-back terminated his contract with the north London side on deadline day before signing a six-month deal with the relegation-threatened Bundesliga side.
Mustafi, who joined Arsenal from Valencia in 2016 for £35million, had fallen out of favour under Mikel Arteta and had only featured nine times in all competitions this season.
But Merson believes Christian Gross' side - who currently sit at the bottom of the Bundesliga table with just eight points from 19 games - will not benefit from his signing.
Asked by Sky Sports whether Arsenal can afford to let the player leave, Merson said: 'Yeah, and he'll keep that record going at Schalke [being bottom of the Bundesliga].'
Mustafi joined Sead Kolasinac in joining Schalke from the north London side in January, with the Bosnia international having sealed a loan move back to his former club earlier in the window.
Schalke have won just one Bundesliga game all season and sit nine points behind Arminia Bielefeld in the relegation playoff position, and are therefore facing their first relegation from the German top flight since 1988.
This is not the first time Merson has slammed Mustafi's form, having claimed in 2018 that Gary Neville would have recommended the 2014 World Cup winner to his former club Manchester United when he was in charge of Valencia if he believed in his quality.
'They paid £35m for him,' Merson said in March three years ago.
'If he was any good, Gary Neville would have gone to Man United 'I've got this lad at Valencia, he's a centre half, he is unbelievable, you've got to go and get him'.'
Merson also described the German as a 'panic buy' from Arsenal when he signed four-and-a-half years ago.
Mustafi was one of three players to have their contracts terminated at Arsenal, joining compatriot Mesut Ozil and fellow centre-back Sokratis, who subsequently went on to sign for Fenerbahce and Olympiacos.
