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‘It takes a lot of time and energy… but I love it’

Shkodran Mustafi may be on a high right now after scoring the opener in the north London derby - but that is nothing compared to becoming a father in the summer.

The Germany international admits he’s had his hands full ever since the birth of his daughter, but says it has been a “special” experience.

“When you ask people about [becoming a parent], they try to give you a little bit of a feeling what is coming, but they can’t really because you have to live it and now I’m living it,” Mustafi told Arsenal Player.

“It is nice, I love it, but on the other side as well, it changes a lot. So you have to be prepared for something like this, it’s not something easy, it takes a lot of time, a lot of energy, but in the end it gives you something really special back, so I’m happy.

“The biggest change has been for 25 years it was all about me and now it’s all about her, so you make plans, you think after training I’ll go home, I’ll do this or that and you arrive at home and then suddenly she’s crying. You have to carry her, you have to give her the milk and your plans are not worth anything.

“You just have to be 24 hours there for the baby, and it’s only obviously when you’re in training that you can switch off and you don’t think about what’s happening at home. You play your football, but as soon as you leave the training ground on the way home you know what is expecting you, so it’s all about the little one.”