Arsenal's new German defender Shkodran Mustafi has quickly developed an almost telepathicrelationship with fellow Gunners centre-back Laurent Koscielny, which has played a major part in the impressive defensive record kept by the North London club this season. They have conceded only seven goals.
Their fans will be delighted to be seeing a much more solid back line at Arsenal than they have done in many years; in the 2015/16 campaign, Per Mertesacker and Gabriel were decidedly unreliable compared to the tough-tackling Mustafi, who arrived from Valencia in the summer for £30m, and the consistent Koscielny.
We're enjoying seeing this partnership develop...https://t.co/jc3uhvgwA7
We are quite similar in the style of playing, he understands things that I do, I understand things that he does,� Mustafi toldArsenal's official website.
If you play with someone who understands football in a different way, it's even more difficult to get on with.�
But if you have someone next to you that sees football the same way you see football and that you think football, I think it's easier to play with.�
Mustafi and Koscielny's relationship at the heart of the defence is strong now, but will need to remain so for tougher challenges ahead. Of the top teams in the Premier League, the pair have only faced a wildly disorganised Chelsea together.
Arsenal train ahead of Swanseamatch https://t.co/RWLGbxuVQk pic.twitter.com/o0SYCkaXxV
Their next challenge as a unit is an upcoming clash with Swansea, whose possession style often has them on the front foot. They impressed against Manchester City and Liverpool, so the Arsenal back four will come under more pressure than it has done in recent weeks.