Arteta praises Arsenal’s defensive record after win over Man United | OneFootball

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta was delighted with his side’s defending during their hard-fought 1-0 win over Manchester United which moved them back to the top of the Premier League.

The Gunners have now recorded 11 clean sheets away from home this season and were once again assured at the back as they kept a tame United attack at bay.

There is an argument to be made that this Arsenal side are one of the best defences in the history of the Premier League. They have kept a clean sheet in seven of their last eight Premier League away games, and only Chelsea in 2008-09 (12) have kept more away from home in a single season in the competition on the road than the Gunners 11 this term.

Arsenal were not at their fluid best in attack today, which Arteta mentioned, but the Spaniard was hugely grateful for his team’s defensive performance at Old Trafford today.

He said: “We know how tough it is, that’s why we have only won twice in 21 matches here. We started the game really well, the goal affected us with the things we had to do on the ball.

“Playing backwards, playing safe, it wasn’t progressing our play. We started to give our balls away and it was open. But the way we defended, we didn’t give away much at all.

“The attitude of the whole team, the way Kai was chasing people all the time, the discipline and creating habits that were super important were very good today. It’s a collective thing.

“We are really happy to win, especially what we did in the second half. That’s another step the team has to make, to be even more dominant. But it was high stake today, the same at Spurs, great credit.

“You don’t have margins for error, these are big teams that make things difficult against you and you have will to win, that’s emotional. “Today we wanted to open the door, last day in front of our people, our families will be there, let’s create the most beautiful day together.”