Arsenal's defence and depth make them title favourites

ON THE BALL

- ROWAN CALLAGHAN

“ATTACK wins games, defence wins titles,” Alex Ferguson famously said. And it’s a message Arsenal seem to be taking to heart as they chase a first league championship in more than two decades.

The Gunners not only look like champions - they have the control, composure, defensive solidity and consistency that champions are made of. While theres still a long way to go in the Premier League title race, the title increasingly feels like Arsenal's to lose.

What sets this Arsenal side apart from Mikel Arteta’s nearly men of the past two seasons is not flamboyance or flair, but something far rarer in north London: ruthless efficiency.

The Gunners have become the hardest side in the Premier League to score against, boasting the best defensive record in the division - and in Europe - with a backline that looks almost impenetrable.

With David Raya in goal and the commanding centre-back partnership of William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes, it’s no wonder there are favourable comparisons with the legendary Arsenal duo of Tony Adams and Steve Bould, who had the assurance of goalkeeper David Seaman behind them.