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How their new defensive pairing is key to Arsenal resurgence

Not so long ago, Arsenal sat slumped at the foot of the Premier League table after three straight defeats to start the season. Serious questions were asked of Mikel Arteta and his so-called ‘process’ with evidence that the Gunners should continue with the Spaniard in charge thin on the surface. However, a lot has changed since then.

Arsenal have now gone seven Premier League fixtures without suffering defeat. Not only this, their performances have many suggesting Arteta might even carry his team into the top four and next season’s Champions League – the Gunners are just three points off West Ham United in fourth place.

Central to this improvement has been the burgeoning relationship in defence between Gabriel Magalhaes and Ben White. The pair complement in each in terms of the qualities they bring to the pitch with Gabriel a physical presence and White generally the one who brings the ball out from the back for the Gunners

The strength of this partnership was apparent in Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Leicester City at the King Power Stadium on Saturday. While the Gunners controlled the first half, they had to withstand pressure from the hosts in the second period. Without Gabriel and White putting up a barrier in front of Aaron Ramsdale, who also pulled off a series of saves, Arsenal might have folded.

It’s been a long time since the North London club had such balance at the back. It’s not just Gabriel and White, either. Takehiro Tomiyasu has been a significant upgrade at right back since arriving from Bologna on transfer deadline day with the Japanese international adept on both sides of the ball. He’s exactly the sort of option Arteta lacked on the right side of defence.

Then there’s Kieran Tierney. The Scotland International has been one of Arsenal’s most consistent performers over the last two seasons, but he now has support. What’s more, Arteta has Nuno Taveres to call on as an able deputy. The methods of ideas of Pep Guardiola’s former assistant are starting to take root in his squad as a whole, not just his starting XI.

“I think they all have the qualities to complement each other and the connection between them is natural,” Arteta explained recently, highlighting the long-term potential of his defensive unit. “In the long run we will see what we get, but so far I am really pleased with them. The potential is there because of the qualities they have individually and how they complement each other with those qualities. With the age of the group that we have, if we manage them well and they are willing to sustain that, they have a really bright future.”

Progress has been made all over the pitch in recent weeks with Thomas Partey and Albert Sambi Lokonga learning to play together and Martin Odegaard and Emile Smith Rowe giving Arsenal a creative platform further forward. Bukayo Saka gives the Gunners an outlet on the wing while Pierre-Emile Aubameyang has found his cutting edge in front of goal again.

However, the starkest difference in this Arsenal team can be found in defence where Gabriel and White now anchor things. Even going back to the final days of the Arsene Wenger era, the Gunners have been accused of being a soft touch. That accusation can no longer he levelled at them.

Arsenal have still conceded more goals (13) than they have scored (12) in the Premier League this season, but the building blocks are in place for Arteta to build the team few believed he could only a few weeks ago. Gabriel and White have the makings of one of the best centre back pairings in the division.

 


 

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