It was a dark time for Arsenal when Unai Emery’s tenure came to an end. Not long after, Freddie Ljungberg took over as interim manager, and then Mikel Arteta arrived on the scene. The rest, as they say, is history.
That history could become something truly special if Arteta can finally dethrone the juggernaut that is Manchester City. Arsenal came close last season, finishing just two points behind City in the title race. But what’s behind their resurgence? They’ve made smarter moves in the transfer market, Arteta’s philosophy has taken root, and crucially, their defense is vastly improved.
### Arsenal’s Defensive Transformation
Gabriel and William Saliba—what a partnership they’ve formed. The Brazilian and Frenchman (no, this isn’t the start of a joke) have been absolutely phenomenal in Arsenal colors. They’ve built a pairing that could go down as one of the greatest in Premier League history.
Just a few weeks ago, Jamie Carragher wrote in *The Telegraph* that Saliba and Gabriel are on the verge of joining elite centre-back pairings, alongside legendary duos like John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho, or Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic. High praise, indeed.
Last season, Arsenal had the most clean sheets in the Premier League. Saliba was part of 18 shutouts, and Gabriel 15. The next closest team, Everton, had 13 thanks to Jordan Pickford and James Tarkowski.
But they haven’t done it all on their own. David Raya, Arsenal’s new goalkeeper, has elevated the backline even further. From his brilliant save against Ollie Watkins at Villa Park to his stunning double stop in the Champions League against Mateo Retegui, Raya is fast becoming one of the best in the business.
Additionally, Arsenal have been boosted by the arrival of Riccardo Calafiori and the return of Jurrien Timber from his ACL injury. Timber, who signed from Ajax in 2023, had his debut season cut short after just one Premier League game. But now, he’s back and proving invaluable, excelling at both left-back and right-back. The £90k-per-week star has shown incredible composure, skillfully playing out from the back, and recently contributed an assist and seven key passes in a win over Leicester.
### A Far Cry from the Past
It’s hard to believe how far Arsenal’s defense has come since the final days of Arsène Wenger and Emery. Gone are the days of David Luiz and Shkodran Mustafi, whose error-prone performances were all too frequent.
Speaking of Mustafi, his time at Arsenal still haunts many fans. His stint in North London was widely regarded as a failure. Journalist Charles Watts even labeled him a “horrendous signing.” The contrast between him and his contemporary, John Stones, is stark. Both players were signed in the same summer—Stones for £50m to Manchester City and Mustafi for £35m to Arsenal. Yet, while Stones remains integral to City, Mustafi never found his form and eventually retired after his disappointing Arsenal spell. As Ian Wright once bluntly put it, “he was never good enough” for the Gunners.
Between 2017 and 2019, Arsenal made an astonishing 29 individual errors that directly led to goals in the Premier League. Mustafi contributed to three of those, including a disastrous display in a 3-2 loss to Crystal Palace, where his failed challenge left Wilfried Zaha one-on-one with Bernd Leno. Instead of taking responsibility, Mustafi even tried to shift the blame to his goalkeeper—an act that did not sit well with fans or teammates.
We could go on about Mustafi’s many blunders, but the important takeaway is this: Arsenal’s defense has undergone a radical transformation. The days of costly errors are behind them, and their current backline is not only stronger but smarter.
### Financial Growth
The club’s financial health has improved as well. During his time at Arsenal, Mustafi earned a hefty €118k-a-week (£98k), just £2k shy of what Gabriel currently earns. To put that in perspective, Mustafi took home more than Leandro Trossard or Jurrien Timber.
Today, Arsenal’s defense and finances are in far better shape, with the club on a path to sustained success.
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