MX23RW : Tuesday, January 7 14:00:41| >> :60:1747:1747:

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta impressed with Gunners' defending from the front

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta impressed with Gunners' defending from the front
© Reuters
Mikel Arteta's side have claimed successive 1-0 wins since returning from the international break.

Mikel Arteta has praised his Arsenal side for defending from the front and highlighted the improvement as a reason behind an upturn in results.

The Gunners lost their first three Premier League games of the campaign but since returning following the international break have secured back-to-back 1-0 victories.

While the wins over Norwich and Burnley were narrow ones, Arteta has been impressed with how his forwards have taken on roles to help the team across the pitch.

Arsenal have won their last two matches without conceding a goal
Arsenal have won their last two matches without conceding a goal (Tess Derry/PA)

"It's the whole unit that has to be compact, that has to stay compact at all times," he said.

"The only way to do it is when the ball is moving, that everybody is moving. If somebody starts to work, if the distances get split and the unit starts to break, there is nothing.

"There is a lot of coaching now going on around the team. Young players are starting to talk and communicate, and that facilitates a lot of things in the defensive phase."

Arteta is likely to make some changes for Wednesday's Carabao Cup third-round clash at home to AFC Wimbledon.

Arsenal saw off West Brom 6-0 in the last round, with a string of first-team regulars included as they worked their way back to match fitness.

Martin Odegaard was one of those to start at the Hawthorns and the summer signing also hit the winner at Burnley with a fine first-half free-kick.

"I think we are building some leadership in the group," Arteta replied when asked if the 22-year-old Norway playmaker is leading by example.

"It's a really young group, with a lot of players under 23. Martin is the captain of the national team and Sambi (Lokonga) was the captain at Anderlecht.

"Martin has this capacity to do that with his talent, taking the ball in moments where others probably refuse to, but as well with his attitude, his rhythm and the way he presses and puts people under pressure.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang impressed his Arsenal manager (Anthony Devlin/PA)

"He's probably the first to do (the pressing from the front). I was also really impressed with (Pierre-Emerick) Aubameyang as well – I think his rhythm and high pressing was fantastic.

"It was a real commitment and purpose because you can go to try and win the ball or put pressure – but you can tell when you are really doing it or when you've been told to do it.

"There was a big meaning behind it and when you go to places like that (Burnley), when you are having difficult moments and you want to start to get results, I think you have to go to those basics and have every single player do that."

ID:464706:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect7071:
Written by
P A

Click here for more stories about Mikel Arteta

Click here for more stories about Arsenal

Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa pictured on February 27, 2021
Read Next:
Leeds United to rival Arsenal for Noa Lang?
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool19144147192846
2Arsenal20117239182140
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest20124429191040
4Chelsea20106439241536
5Newcastle UnitedNewcastle20105534221235
6Manchester CityMan City2010463627934
7Bournemouth209653023733
8Aston Villa209563032-232
9Fulham207943027330
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2061043029128
11Brentford208393835327
12Tottenham HotspurSpurs20731042301224
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd206592328-523
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham206592439-1523
15Crystal Palace204972128-721
16Everton193881525-1017
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2044123145-1416
18Ipswich TownIpswich2037102035-1516
19Leicester CityLeicester2035122344-2114
20Southampton2013161244-326


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!