Arsenal: 4 reasons Arteta's side can clinch top four spot

Arsenal: 4 reasons Arteta’s side can clinch top four spot

Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta (R) speaks witj Arsenal's English midfielder Bukayo Saka (L) during the English League Cup semi-final first leg football match between Liverpool and Arsenal at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on January 13, 2022. - - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images) /

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LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – JANUARY 13: Roberto Firmino of Liverpool is challenged by Rob Holding, Ben White and Gabriel of Arsenal during the Carabao Cup Semi Final First Leg match between Liverpool and Arsenal at Anfield on January 13, 2022 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) /

2. Arsenal Have the Defensive Foundation

Sir Alex Ferguson famously said that attack wins you games and defence wins you titles. Arsenal aren’t competing for a league title anytime soon but they are forging a backline that is providing them with the stability they’ve been desperately craving.

The fluidity and youthfulness of the attack is garnering all the praise at the moment but they’ve got a set back five in place which is providing them with the foundation to be greater threat in the final third.

Arteta has centred much of his work around making the team more defensively sound. He’s invested heavily in defensive recruits since coming into the job and, at last, has found the right formula that gets the best out of his attacking players.

With two midfielders at centre-back, the perfect right-back to act as a stabaliser, a consistent left-back to contribute at both ends and a goalkeeper who aids progressively and allows Arsenal to be varied in their build up, there is a platform there unlike any seen in north London for years.

An effective team starts from the back. Without a solid defence you won’t achieve anything in the long run.

Arsenal have just that.

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