Lee Dixon has shared that Takehiro Tomiyasu, Ben White, Gabriel, Kieran Tierney and Aaron Ramsdale have been ‘sensational’ for Arsenal, as he told Premier League Productions (01/01/22 at 11:45 am).
The Highbury legend suggested that the defensive backline for Arsenal ‘deserve’ more press coverage.
On Saturday, Arsenal suffered a morale-sapping 2-1 defeat to Manchester City, with Rodri scoring a stoppage-time winner.
It was an undeserved loss for those in north London because they were the better side throughout the 90 minutes.
Key decisions in the game didn’t help Arsenal’s cause, including Gabriel’s sending off, but that doesn’t hide how well the backline, including Ramsdale, have performed ever since Mikel Arteta has been able to put them together.
That was touched upon by Dixon, who is liking what he is seeing from the players, who aren’t probably getting as much as the limelight because of the thriving Hale-End duo, Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka.
“I think that backline, with Ramsdale behind, has been sensational,” said Dixon. “That backline is really taking shape.
“The partnerships that you create as a back four carry you through games like that. Carry a team through where you go ‘you know what, those four look pretty solid and we have a base to play from’.
“I think the back four and the goalkeeper, for me, as much press as Saka and Smith Rowe get, and all of that lot, that back five unit deserve and have been the most impressive.”
From the team that conceded five at the Etihad last time out, to the one that only conceded two shots at their goal yesterday.
It has been some level of improvement from the Gunners and the words ‘trust the process’ might just be making sense.
Three of those players in that back five are summer signings and all three can put their names in light can claim that they are the best signings this season.
Some would perhaps push towards Ramsdale because there were probably more question marks over him when he signed and he has answered a number of his critics ever since he took Arsenal’s number one goalkeeping gloves.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
