Last Updated: Sun, 25 Mar 2012 15:23
Arsene Wenger feels Arsenal's resurgence has been built on solid defensive foundations.
The Gunners cruised to a seventh straight Barclays Premier League win as they beat Aston Villa 3-0 at Emirates Stadium to tighten their grip on third place.
It represents an impressive turnaround for Wenger's squad, who earlier in the campaign lurched from one crisis to another.
The Arsenal manager feels much of that is down to having a settled rearguard, with the return to fitness of full-backs Kieran Gibbs - who scored his first league goal on Saturday - and Bacary Sagna allowing a more balanced feel to their rearguard action.
"When we did not win games [earlier in the season], I did not feel we played as badly as people said. We have gained a lot of confidence in our play out from the back and that makes a massive difference," said Wenger.
"The defenders who play out from the back give us a security now and that allows the team to be much more confident."
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