Arsenal: Shkodran Mustafi quietly one of best defenders in Premier League

Arsenal already have one world class defender in Laurent Koscielny, but it’s becoming more obvious that they may have two, adding in Shkodran Mustafi.

Arsenal’s defense looked on a whole new level against Tottenham and there was one major difference – Shkodran Mustafi. His athleticism combined with his coordination ability was simply to die for, as his impact was so obvious even without the superb headed goal.

It was a match that really makes you think about things. Think about stuff like, say, if Mustafi is one of the best in the world. Am I exaggerating? Absolutely not.

Here’s the stat that confirmed essentially everything I already knew about Shkodran Mustafi, except to a much bigger extent than even I could have imagined. Arsenal has now participated in 50 Premier League matches since signing the German.

In the 32 matches Mustafi has played, the Gunners have a +35 goal differential. In the 18 he has not played, they have a +4 goal differential.

You see these stats popping up all the time that depict how a team does with an without a certain player. I’ve never seen one as demonstrative as this. But honestly, is it that surprising? I mean, he started his Arsenal career with a 19 game unbeaten streak.

Then he got hurt. This year, and going back to the previous nine games, only one goal has been scored against the Gunners with him on the pitch – it was that stinker against Stoke City.

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Sure, he can be rash at times. He can dive in and leave himself exposed, but like Granit Xhaka, like Francis Coquelin, that rashness is dissipating. It’s happening less and less. And in the mean time, there is a party of class strikers in his pocket. I’ll take a few bouts of rashness any day if in the mean time Harry Kane, Alvaro Morata and Diego Costa get buttoned away in Mustafi’s cargo pants.

That is a clear-cut difference maker. And it’s not like he has only had 10 matches, or even 15. This is a 50 game sample with and without him. If you’re going to disavow this as inconsequential, then there is simply no pleasing you.

I will go ahead and say it – if you’re having a conversation about the best defenders in England and you don’t at the very least mention Mustafi once or twice, then you’re just wrong. The difference that he makes on the pitch is noticeable. The way he handles top-tier strikers is elite and, clearly, his teammates benefit from having him out there.

Next: 5 Things Learned Against Tottenham

Iron out the remaining rashness, which we really have seen less and less of lately, and you’ve got a world class defender.

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