FIFA 16: Per Mertesacker included in top 10 defenders, Arsenal linchpin top centre-back in Premier League

Shock inclusion of Germany international

Per Mertesacker (GETTY IMAGES)

Many would argue that Per Mertesacker is not even the best defender at his club. But according to FIFA 16, the Arsenal man is the sixth best defensive player in the world and the number one centre-back in the Premier League.

Nicknamed the BFG, Mertesacker is renowned for his lack of pace. That's a weakness of his game noted by EA Sports, the makers of the hugely popular football game. He scores just 31 on that front, incredibly low in comparison to Thiago Silva, who scores 74 in that department and is rated as the best defensive player on the soon-to-be released game.

However, Mertesacker makes it into the top 10 based on his defensive score, which is rated at 88.

Behind PSG and Brazil international Silva is Giorgio Chiellini of Juventus and Mats Hummels of Borussia Dortmund.

Mertesacker is the only Premier League player in a top 10 that includes Philipp Lahm, Sergio Ramos and Diego Godin.

Check out the full top-ten below...

FIFA 16 is released on 24 September in the UK.