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There has been an air of positivity around Arsenal in recent months after they papered over their horrendous start to the campaign. Mikel Arteta's young squad have shown tenacity and exuberance in their approach towards games. A team that was criticized for allowing opponents to bounce back is now grinding out tough results.
In what comes as a shock to many, Arsenal are fifth in the Premier League points table, sitting level on points with West Ham United. They haven't been dominant by any means and their 4-0 humbling at the hands of Liverpool was a sign that the Gunners have a long way to go.
However, they are winning the games they should and that's not too bad at the moment.
Arsenal's new signings have adapted well and some of them make this list
The new signings at Arsenal have all gelled up well with one another and as a collective, the effort must have pleased Arteta. Individually they have all performed their role to great effect. As mentioned earlier, the Gunners have had to fight for some results and in doing so their defense, as a collective unit, has been tested.
They have put in the hard yards and made some crucial tackles to ensure they win the ball in key areas of the pitch. On that note, let's take a look at the five best tacklers at Arsenal right now.
Note: All the data has been taken from Fbref Stats
#5 Ben White
Arsenal's most expensive signing of the summer was indeed a much-needed one. Gabriel Magalhaes had proven that he deserves to be a regular starter for Arsenal, but none of the other centre-back options have inspired confidence. To address this issue for the long-term, Arteta made the £50m investment in Ben White.
The 24-year old had impressed at Brighton and proven that he has the makings of a great ball-playing centre-back. At Arsenal he has justified his stock so far since pairing up with Gabriel. White has put in 13 tackles in 11 Premier League appearances.
He has shown a tendency to drive with the ball from the back and has been quite successful at times. The former Brighton man has played some great long balls, something we saw Arteta try with David Luiz as well. His reading of the game has also been pretty good, which is evident through the 29 interceptions he has made.
#4 Gabriel Magalhaes
From one centre-back to another, the Gunners finally seem to be in a state where they have moved on from breaking their head over their centre-back partnership. Gabriel Magalhaes has held his end of the bargain and helped White settle into the team.
The Brazilian is often spotted communicating with his back-line, keeping them on their toes. He has been a solid presence in the air and is an able tackler of the ball. Gabriel has made 15 tackles so far and some of his duels have come at the cost of his teeth.
White and him have formed a nice ice and fire partnership with the former keeping his cool at all times and the Brazilian is involved when tempers rise. The 23-year old has been very significant in crunch moments, having blocked a total of 14 shots, the most by an Arsenal player.
#3 Takehiro Tomiyasu
When Arsenal roped in for Japan international Takehiro Tomiyasu, there were a few things that fans were not convinced about. First, this was a transfer from a low-profile club in Serie A, namely Bologna, so generally the hype wasn't over the top.
Second, Arsenal's arch rivals Tottenham had been linked with the right-back before he arrived at the Emirates. So fans weren't sure why the Lily Whites didn't sign him and why their club did. Ten games later, Tomiyasu has become a fan favorite and no one has any doubts that Arteta recruited the right guy for the job.
With Hector Bellerin, the Gunners had the advantage in terms of pace, but he was never completely reliable on the defensive front. Now even though the Japanese is quite adventurous himself, he makes sure that he does his primary job of defending to his best.
Tomiyasu has made 19 tackles for Arsenal so far, accompanied by 16 interceptions. He has been dribbled past only three times so far, has been a solid header of the ball and, unlike Bellerin, is rarely late in tracking back.
If the former Bologna man can continue his performances, he will be an absolute value for money at €18.6m.
#2 Albert Sambi Lokonga
If you are captaining Anderlecht at the age of 21 and learning the trade under the wing of Vincent Kompany, there are not many reasons not to spend cash on you. Mikel Arteta did the same when he realized the potential of Albert Sambi Lokonga and spent €17.5m for his signature.
The Arsenal faithful were not supposed to be seeing much of the young Belgian midfielder but all thanks to Granit Xhaka, he has been getting regular game time. Lokonga arrived as someone who could play backup to the Swiss and Thomas Partey, but his performances suggest Xhaka might not walk in the team so easily.
There is so much to like about Lokonga. His ability to make progressive passes, to pick runs from strikers and the consistency with which he maintains the press for Arsenal. In fact, his work-rate without the ball has been appreciated as well. The 22-year old has made 19 tackles in his 9 appearances in the Premier League.
He has made 19 interceptions for the Gunners, which is second only to Ben White. It wouldn't be wrong to see him get more game time even when Xhaka is back, because he compliments Partey really well and is not reckless like the Swiss.
#1 Thomas Partey
It is really shameful that since joining from Atletico Madrid, a usually fit and running Thomas Partey has been in and out of the squad with injuries. There have been glimpses of the midfielder's dominant and imposing personality but he hasn't been the same since leaving La Liga.
The start to the campaign has been positive so far and the numbers have been encouraging. The Ghana international has been Arsenal's best tackler this season with 20 tackles and has been great with recovering the ball.
The midfield pivot of Lokonga and Partey has been important for Arteta's side as they have pressed with great intent and are always looking for a forward pass.
The 28-year old has been eager to take chances at scoring goals and is often seen trying to curl his shots into the top corners. Partey's wait for his first Arsenal goal came to an end when he scored a header in a 3-1 victory against Aston Villa.
The ankle and hip injuries have been a matter of concern and Arsenal will have to ensure his workload is managed well in December.
