Arsenal great Nigel Winterburn hails Unai Emery's overhaul of Gunners' defence

Arsenal great Nigel Winterburn has hailed head coach Unai Emery’s overhaul of the Gunners’ defence that reflects a new “togetherness” at the Emirates Stadium.

Though the Gunners still have conceded more goals than any other side in the Premier League top five this season there have been signs of progress in a rearguard that rarely looked better than shaky during the final seasons of Arsene Wenger’s reign.

Emery’s side are on a 17-match unbeaten streak dating back to August 18, the longest such run in Europe’s top five divisions, and have conceded more than two goals in only one game so far this season.

Emery has insisted there is still work to be done to improve a defence with just five clean sheets to his name but Winterburn, a member of the famed Arsenal defence of the 1990s with which George Graham and Wenger won league titles, sees signs of progress.

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“As a defender you’re always looking for perfection, but we’ve seen a steady progression from Arsenal’s start to the season, not just for the defending from the back four or five, but the improvement when Arsenal are playing out from the back,” Winterburn said.

“The togetherness within the squad is clear to see, and when you talk about defending, it’s all about your team being in a position to slow down the opposition. It’s coming together quite nicely, and the people at the Emirates are liking what they’re seeing.”

Emery’s predecessor Wenger struggled to establish much defensive solidity in the years after Winterburn, Tony Adams, David Seaman et al left the club, though his unbeaten league side of 2003-04 was an honourable exception.

“Under Arsene Wenger we were all aware he sets his teams up to attack, I think the defensive-side of the game was secondary,” Winterburn conceded. “You almost expect yourself to organise defensively as a team and towards the end, the team lost a bit of direction and confidence under Wenger.

“When you have a new manager, individually you’re very focused as you want to show the new manager you’re good enough be in the team. The new style and way of thinking under Unai Emery has refocused the club and he’s also brought in new players to enhance the squad.”

Emery is not short of options in defensive areas, particularly as the injuries that plagued his rearguard early in the season appear - Nacho Monreal and Konstantinos Mavropanos aside - to be easing.

Summer signings Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Lucas Torreira have been largely successful additions, particularly the latter, whose tenacious approach to his midfield duties is in sharp contrast to many of those who preceded him in the Arsenal engine room.

Significantly club captain Laurent Koscielny will also be available to Emery soon having played his first 45 minutes since injuring his Achilles in May for Freddie Ljungberg’s Under-23 side at Derby on Monday.

However Winterburn has warned the 33-year-old that there can be no guarantees he will immediately be back in the Arsenal side.

“I think it’s going to be difficult to bring Koscielny back in, he has been Arsenal’s outstanding defender since he joined. He had a bit a dip in form last year, but that could have been injury related. For a player with such a big injury, you have to watch his progress in reserve games and training. The big test will come when he returns to the first team and how he copes in the first team.

“If he comes back in the condition that he’s capable of, he’ll be the main defender in this Arsenal team. But they’ve coped well, with Rob Holding stepping up and [Shkodran] Mustafi mentioning the benefit of new training drills. There are positive signs and he won’t be rushed back.

“Unai Emery will pick on form, we’ve seen with other players who’ve missed out. I don’t think he’ll come back in and Mustafi or Holding will drop out. If everyone’s fit and in good-form, Emery might have a problem. But, Emery will always pick on form and with a focus on the opposition he’s coming up against.”

Nigel Winterburn was speaking to betting aggregator bookmakers.tv