The Gunners have patched their once leaky defense

The Gunners have strengthened the defense this season. Even with an occasional costly error or two, Mikel Arteta has found a way to patch the leaky and vulnerable defense Arsenal was so famous for. Here are a few stats to back-up that opinion…

In the 36 games (in all competitions) Arsenal has played this season, the defense has allowed just 1.0 goal per game.

In the 24 Premier League matches, that stat is 1.04 goals allowed per game.

Numbers don’t lie. The Arsenal defense has improved tremendously.

Arsenal came into this season with a large collection of center backs, including: Chambers, Mustafi, Sokratis, Luiz, Saliba, Holding, Gabriel, Mari and Mavropanos. Due to loans and contract terminations, that list was narrowed down to the following: Holding, Gabriel, Chambers, Mari and Luiz.

Rob Holding signed a new contract, which was great news for the club’s supporters. We have watched with glee the Englishman mature this season, and become a major figure in Arteta’s back line.

Gabriel is still recovering from a stint with COVID-19. After an unbelievable start to the season, Gabriel is still working to reclaim his early season form.

Coming off a serious injury, Calum Chambers is once again fit, but is rarely seen on the pitch during matches. I believe Chambers, like Holding, can become a valuable member of the defense. He just needs an opportunity to play.

Pablo Mari is in the same category as Chambers. After a good start to this campaign, injuries have slowed him as well. However, the Brazlian is once again healthy and should be given every opportunity to compete for a starting position.

Then there is David Luiz. There are reports he could stay as a player/coach at Arsenal, while other reports say he will be let go in the summer. Luiz is, and always has been an enigma during his spell as a Gunner. There are matches when he plays like David, and then other matches when he plays like Goliath. Regardless of the inconsistencies, his experience has been his most beneficial asset for the club. So maybe a role geared more to coaching is where his future lies with AFC.

Obviously, the burning question this season has been, “what happened to William Saliba?” We all expected Saliba to be one of our defensive saviors this season. He was so highly touted, but so rarely used. Was it his relationship with Arteta, his inability to adapt playing for a big club, was it his immaturity as a a person…what was it? Maybe we will never know, however, the fact is the guy can play, but maybe not for Arsenal. This summer’s preseason should tell that story once and for all.

Another player to keep an eye on this preseason will be Dino Mavropanos. During his loan spell at Stuttgart, the Greek has been impressive, and we know the Arsenal brass are keeping an open eye on Dino’s progress.

So, where does that leave Arsenal defensively? In my opinion, I think the current line-up and the future line-up are looking good. For once, I don’t believe defense is an area the Gunners need to strengthen at this point and time. Arteta’s job will be to determine who’s the cream of the crop.

Cheers.

Gunner1953