---
title: "Arsenal: Fans react as Skhodran Mustafi is Premier League’s highest rated defender in 2020"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/arsenal-fans-react-as-skhodran-mustafi-is-premier-leagues-highest-rated-defender-in-2020/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Adam Clancy"
section: "Arsenal Football Club"
published: "2020-03-19T19:20:30Z"
modified: "2020-03-31T15:23:21Z"
---

# Arsenal: Fans react as Skhodran Mustafi is Premier League’s highest rated defender in 2020

**Many Arsenal fans have reacted to Skhodran Mustafi being named the highest-rated Premier League defender in 2020 (minimum five appearances) according to [Whoscored](https://twitter.com/WhoScored), trolling Virgil Van Dijk in the process.**

The German international has an average rating of 7.5 in the Premier League since the turn of the year, bettering Van Dijk who has averaged a 7.48 score and all other defenders. This is of course surprising considering the [constant criticism](https://thetopflight.com/2019/04/22/arsenals-shkodran-mustafi-premier-leagues-worst-centre-back/) he has endured at the club.

Either side of the two centre backs in the defence are Ricardo Pereira (7.38) and Cesar Azpilicueta (7.34). The highest-rated player so far is Bruno Fernandes with an average score of 7.82.

\[freshpress-poll id=”287322″\]

Mustafi also has the third-highest average rating in the entire Gunners squad for the Premier League, with a 7.13 score bettered only by Nicolas Pepe (7.19) and Pablo Mari (7.37), with the latter only making one appearance so far. (via [Whoscored](https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/13/Show/England-Arsenal)).

Arsenal fans reacted to the news on the Twitter account of [AFTV Media](https://twitter.com/AFTVMedia/status/1240552588983930881), with these fans trolling Virgil Van Dijk in the process:

https://twitter.com/horsewooman/status/1240553517485522949

> Better than VVD… one team is unbeaten this year in the PL for a reason
>
> — Oliver S. (@Aaraufreak) [March 19, 2020](https://twitter.com/Aaraufreak/status/1240553473378304000?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> [pic.twitter.com/o2qbQlXePq](https://t.co/o2qbQlXePq)
>
> — 小池泰之 (@yasu\_koike12) [March 19, 2020](https://twitter.com/yasu_koike12/status/1240556473081425922?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> [@RB\_08Ftbol](https://twitter.com/RB_08Ftbol?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) van dijk is dusted
>
> — H (@RRRv2\_\_) [March 19, 2020](https://twitter.com/RRRv2__/status/1240559160267333635?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> \*sing\* He’s better than Van Dijk [pic.twitter.com/9IMoeFc5wP](https://t.co/9IMoeFc5wP)
>
> — Quasiland (@dominikbertrams) [March 19, 2020](https://twitter.com/dominikbertrams/status/1240557654424027136?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> [@VirgilvDijk](https://twitter.com/VirgilvDijk?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) come out now. We need to talk.
>
> — Vedant Nare (@NareVedant) [March 19, 2020](https://twitter.com/NareVedant/status/1240558931019067393?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Better than van dijk
>
> — Luthfi (@luthap23) [March 19, 2020](https://twitter.com/luthap23/status/1240559553902600192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

***Arsenal fans, have you been impressed with Mustafi this year? Let us know in the comments down below!***