The $30 million defensive overhaul

Arsenal's strong defensive record is a key factor in their European ambitions, with the team boasting the most clean sheets, fewest goals conceded, lowest xG against, and fewest shots on target faced across Europe's top five leagues this season.

According to the report , Arsenal has the most clean sheets (19), the fewest goals conceded (27), the lowest xG against (28 .3), and the fewest shots on target faced (90) across Europe's top five leagues this season.

An echo of George Graham's 1989 title win

Nigel Winterburn, a defensive stalwart of the club for 13 years and three times a title winner, recalls the days of George Graham's Arsenal, who ended an 18-year wait for the title in 1989 with a settled defence.

They conceded only 18 goals in 38 league games and lost just once, with four of the defensive unit - David Seaman, Lee Dixon, Nigel Winterburn, and Steve Bould - playing in every game.

Arteta's defensive vision: a mix of youth and experience

Winterburn believes that Arteta's vision for the team is similar to George Graham's, who remodelled the squad and brought in younger players.

The team has supreme depth at centre back thanks to the likes of Cristhian Mosquera , Riccardo Calafiori, and Piero Hincapie, who can all operate in centrally or at full back.

Who is the key to Arsenal's defensive success?

The combination of Gabriel and Saliba, who are perfect together, has been praised by Winterburn, while Hincapie is an out-and-out defender, and Timber can do everything.

Ben White, a traditional right back, plays up and down the wing, doesn't invert like Myles Lewis-Skelly or Calafiori, who is just wandering around the pitch, but if they are caught out of position, there is someone filling in or recovering .