Arsenal goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez has praised defensive duo David Luiz and Shkodran Mustafi after they helped him and his side keep a clean sheet in the 2-0 win over Wolves on Saturday.
The two defenders have often been criticised after making a number of high-profile mistakes this season, but they have looked a lot more solid playing as part of a back three recently, and the Gunners have only conceded once in their last four games in all competitions.
Martinez, who has been deputising for Bernd Leno since the German No.1 got injured against Brighton last month, believes the defence is moving in the right direction, and thinks manager Mikel Arteta has been behind the improvement.
"Now, we have structure, we have a gameplan, we have game management and the defence looks stronger and stronger," Martinez told Sky Sports .
"Believe me, David and Musti are top players. David has been at the top for so many years and it's the same with Musti.
"Sometimes when you make mistakes at big clubs you get punished. With Arsenal, people always seem to blame the defence for defeats. But I feel really safe behind them.
"They have experience and they are constantly talking through the whole game. When you play behind them, it's not like what people say. It's not, 'Oh, they make mistakes, they don't know how to play football'.
"I feel really safe, and now that we've kept three clean sheets on the bounce in the Premier League, people are starting to say that the defence is actually solid."
After winning their last three games in the Premier League the Gunners are back in contention for a European spot, and are next in action when they face Leicester on Tuesday night ahead of the north London derby against Tottenham on Sunday.
