Arsenal continue to push on in pursuit of a first Premier League title since 2004.
With just eight league fixtures left, the Gunners remain firmly in the three-horse race alongside Liverpool and Manchester City.
Arsenal stumbled earlier on in the season, and for a while, expectations of a first title in 20 years were tempered somewhat.
However, after their winter warm-weather training camp in Dubai, the Gunners well and truly burst back into contention.
Arsenal have won nine and drawn one of their last 10 games in the league, and the sole draw has come away at Man City.
The Gunners’ defence has been especially impressive in recent months, conceding just five goals in all competitions since returning from Dubai.
Now, Theo Walcott and Izzy Christiansen have spoken highly about two key components of the Arsenal backline.
Walcott, who spent most of his career at Arsenal, told BBC 5 Live Sport that William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes are “the new generation” of defenders.
The former Gunners ace said: “These guys are the new generation. They can do everything. Everything you want in a defender and a footballer.
“They are the players you could just build for a perfect centre-back and these two at the moment are just that. They have been incredible.
Meanwhile, former England midfielder Christiansen deemed the Arsenal duo “absolutely phenomenal” and “the first thing” most people would talk about if the Gunners win the title.
She said: “We are looking at Arsenal and why they are in this situation that they are in right now, which is on the fringes of a league title with Man City and Liverpool.
“And they say the old cliché, defensive wins you leagues, and if they do win the league, I think the first thing people will be discussing is that defence.
“And those two in the middle of the defence, Gabriel and Saliba, they have been absolutely phenomenal to watch this season.”
Walcott and Christiansen are spot on. Arsenal’s centre-back pairing has been nothing short of superb this season, the culmination of great work from everyone at N5.
Arteta received a lot of criticism for how he seemingly stalled on throwing Saliba into the Arsenal fold, but his decision has been vindicated, as the Frenchman needed some time for his potential to be brought out.
