This is Arsenal’s 2016/17 Christmas review

PRO – Defensive solidarity

One of the biggest issues Arsenal have had in recent seasons is their defensive capabilities, yet they appear to have somewhat solved them this time around.

The purchase of Skhodran Mustafi from Valencia in the summer seems to have given the whole back four a boost, with he and Laurent Koscielny striking up quite the partnership in central defence.

Hector Bellerin has continued where he left off last season, although he has been out with injury recently, while Nacho Monreal has been solid at left-back, and Kieran Gibbs has deputised well when needed.

But it’s at centre-half where Arsenal really needed strengthening – they needed someone to slot in alongside Koscielny and solidify the backline. Mustafi has so far done just that.

It’s still early stages, but it looks like Wenger may well have a central defensive partnership to keep for many years to come.