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Shkodran Mustafi insists he will not go to “war” with Arsenal and remains focused on playing football for the club after a summer move failed to materialise.

The 27-year-old defender played his first game of the season as the Gunners ran out comfortable 3-0 winners away to Eintracht Frankfurt in their opening Europa League fixture of the campaign.

Youngsters Joe Willock and Bukayo Saka stole the headlines as both academy products scored before Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang completed the victory with a late strike.

But Mustafi, much-maligned and told by head coach Unai Emery he was free to leave in the summer, played his part as Arsenal kept just their second clean sheet since April.

The Germany international has struggled to make an impact since moving to the Emirates Stadium in a big-money transfer in 2016 and was heavily linked with a departure.

Emery suggested after the European transfer window closed that it had been Mustafi’s decision not to leave and the former Valencia man is now ready to knuckle down and play when called upon.

“I‘ve never been someone who begins a war when something doesn‘t work out,” he said.

“I always said: If it is possible, I am open to take the next step. If not, I keep playing my football.

“My father, who is my agent, spoke to the club. I am an Arsenal player and still got two years contract.

“The manager said he sees me the same way he sees every player in the team. That‘s why I played today and that‘s it. We are going to see what the future holds.”

Speaking after an open game at the Commerzbank Arena where both sides wasted a plethora of chances and Frankfurt had midfielder Dominik Kohr sent off late on, Emery was full of praise for his young charges.

It was something of a vindication for the faith he has shown in Arsenal’s academy products since taking the head coach’s job last year and the Spaniard was delighted with both Willock and Saka – as well as Emile Smith Rowe.

“Their performance tonight was good and they deserve it,” he said.

“Maybe with his (Saka’s) goal, with his performance, but also in the match taking confidence, finishing really strongly physically.

“And also with Emile, after his injury tonight he played for the first time this season and he worked well. Willock also, progressively he was feeling better and with a good performance.”

Frankfurt manager Adi Hutter has had to deal with losing his three attacking talents, Luka Jovic, Ante Rebic and Sebastien Haller over the summer – the trio having scored 56 of the club’s 90 goals last season.

But, despite profligacy from new recruits Bas Dost and Andre Silva, the Austrian head coach was pleased with his side’s performance, if not the final result.

“It’s a bitter defeat for us,” he said.

“Because the performance does not reflect that result. When it was still 1-0 for Arsenal, we tried to score the equaliser but then conceded another one.

“The important thing is for us to create chances, I have seen enough of those. A goal can help open some doors, give you a boost, that did not happen today.”

Pep Guardiola hailed a professional performance – but stressed there was no time to enjoy it – after Manchester City opened their Champions League campaign with a 3-0 win over Shakhtar Donetsk.

Riyad Mahrez, Ilkay Gundogan and Gabriel Jesus were all on target as City eased to victory over the Ukrainian champions in the Group C clash in Kharkiv.

It was a convincing start in a group they are expected to dominate but Guardiola’s thoughts were already turning to Saturday’s Premier League clash with Watford.

The City boss said: “I think already about Watford as we don’t have much time, but to start away in the Champions League with a good result (is positive) and I know we played really good.

“We created incredible chances and all the guys were fantastic. It’s a good result to start – better than last season.”

With Aymeric Laporte already sidelined, an injury to John Stones on the eve of the game left Nicolas Otamendi as City’s only fit specialist centre-back.

Midfielder Fernandinho filled in impressively against Shakhtar but Guardiola admits other options will also need to be explored.

Youngster Eric Garcia, who was on the bench in Ukraine, is an alternative but Guardiola may try switching some other senior players around first.

He said: “I didn’t have doubts he (Fernandinho) could do it and he’s going to do it (again).

“But Nico is 31, Fernandinho is 34, and next alternative is 18. For three or four months I don’t know what will happen.

“Both were incredible tonight but we need another solution – Rodri or Kyle (Walker) maybe – because they cannot play every game at their age. But Fernandinho can play in any position and that’s why he’s so important for us.”

Guardiola also picked out Gundogan and Mahrez for praise.

Asked if Gundogan did not get enough credit for his performances, Guardiola said: “The important thing is the credit he has from all of us, he is an exceptional player. It was outstanding from Ilkay today.”

He added of Mahrez, who set up Gundogan’s goal as well as scoring himself: “It’s a pleasure to watch him play football.”

Shakhtar occasionally threatened City on the break but coach Luis Castro admitted they paid the price for failing to take their chances.

He said: “We knew how difficult this game would be. Our plan was not letting City develop their attacks through the centre and we also wanted to organise fast counters and take our chances.

“At 1-0 Junior Moraes had a chance for an equaliser but we missed it and in a few minutes City scored the second goal. When you are 2-0 down you feel a mountain on your shoulders, so it was very hard in the second half. The game was finished by the third goal.”