Arsenal defender Shkodran Mustafi says it is 'the wrong time' to worry about Arsene Wenger's future

Arsenal defender Shkodran Mustafi is not worrying about manager Arsene Wenger's future and believes it is "the wrong time" for him and his teammates to get caught up in the furore surrounding the Gunners boss.

The German international says all the Arsenal players have to worry about at the moment is delivering for Wenger on the pitch and does not see a need for his cohorts to worry about whether the former Strasbourg manager is in charge at The Emirates Stadium beyond this summer.

There have been calls from some quarters for Wenger to speak out and give clarification about his future now, but Mustafi, who joined Arsenal from Valencia for around £35m ($44m) last summer, does not see how an announcement from the Frenchman would benefit his side.

"It is nice for everyone to talk about the manager and our situation because, let's face it, this is why football is big," the Arsenal defender told Press Association Sport. "But for me as a player, it is difficult to speak for all the team because I don't know what is going on in everyone's head but it is nothing I am worrying about.

"He (Wenger) has been here for 20 years. He knows what he has to do. Now it is us players who have to go on the pitch and bring the performance – that's all we have to focus on. We have to focus first on ourselves to do our jobs right and then as a team. We don't have to get into speculation and everything that is going on around us.

"It is the wrong time. We should just focus on what is happening on the pitch. If he says he is going to leave or if he is going to stay, is it really going to help or will it make it worse? Who knows? I prefer to concentrate on what is going on, on the pitch."

Arsenal delivered an improved performance during their 2-2 draw with Manchester City on Sunday (2 April) and will hope to secure their first Premier League victory since February with a win over West Ham United. The Hammers emerged victorious from the Emirates last season but they are without a win since 4 February, with speculation rife regarding the future of manager Slaven Bilic.