OPINION
Arsenal may have extended their unbeaten run to a remarkable 20 matches after a captivating 2-2 draw at Manchester United on Wednesday night, with Shkodran Mustafi scoring the first goal of the game through set-piece header. But that did not stop many fans piling into the centre-back, 26, for a performance they claimed was symptomatic of the team’s defensive ills and all-round vulnerability. Unai Emery has worked wonders with this Arsenal team but they lack a Virgil van Dijk-style defender (so do most other sides, it has to be said) who barely makes a wrong move at the back. Mustafi has started all 15 of Arsenal’s league matches this season, mostly in a back three as Emery tries to accommodate the absence of a top-class master and commander of the defence. He was mostly solid against United but some erratic moments, such as when he dived in on Marcus Rashford just outside the box, provided fuel for those who don’t believe he is quite good enough.
This Is Futbol has rounded up some of the best tweets below:
https://twitter.com/Jamken22/status/1070429925730070528
I hate Mustafi. He’s at like the center of everything that goes wrong with the defense. We had this game.
— Chris Pyle (@parlaypyle) December 5, 2018
Need a CB to upgrade on Mustafi and a paced winger in January to progress further.
— Charlie Clarke (@ChazClarke2) December 5, 2018
Mustafi at fault for almost every other defensive shocker in games he plays in. Sokratis is not the best thing since sliced souvlaki but he’s definitely a step forward.
— Arjun Ahluwalia (@ArjAhloo) December 5, 2018
https://twitter.com/MarioChristo85/status/1070463146941394945
Mustafi gets on my nerves, never confident when the balls coming towards him lol. Honestly I'm so happy with current Arsenal. Give Emery a few windows and there's no reason we can't be challenging with Liverpool and City. He's yet to make a bad transfer
— Lawrence (@_L4WRENCE) December 5, 2018
https://twitter.com/GoonerRob1002/status/1070483821458542593
Have you guys seen Mustafi instagram post…sigh!!! This is the sort of mentality that we are trying to get rid of. But this dude thinks they have arrived bcos of a draw at United? Mehn!!!
— ENIGMA ? (@lara_beyby) December 5, 2018
Mustafi and mikitarian are garbage
— john zourbanos (@jzourba92) December 5, 2018
I’ve grown sick and tired of Mustafi!
— Jacobs Sepp Basil (III) ?? (@bjacobs14) December 5, 2018