[Getty Images]BBCThu, November 27, 2025 at 8:25 AM UTC·2 min readFormer Arsenal defender Matt Upson says the Gunners are proving to be a formidable force this season because they are "all pulling in the same direction" and "having an impact."
The Gunners have been excellent this season - winning 16, drawing two and losing just one of their matches across all competitions.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementBeating Bayern Munich means they have also won their first five matches in the Champions League for the first time since the 2005-06 season, when they reached their only final in the competition.
"The confidence is there for Arsenal," said Upson on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast. "You can feel it simmering all the time.
"They might have patches in a game where they might not play that well or they have games where they might not perform so well, but the foundation is built, so it doesn't drop below a certain level.
"Before with Arsenal, you'd have these brilliant flashes but then they would have matches where they tailed right off. We're not seeing that now.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement"It's a 7/10 all the time. Sometimes it might even go to a 9/10, but they are just churning out these games.
"Arsenal's bench also delivers in all areas in terms of freshness and quality.
"We are talking about multiple players coming on and having an impact. They are all scrapping for a starting position.
"I think that's the key. It isn't easy for a manager to keep a squad of this depth hungry, together and fighting for the shirt, but also responding in the right way when not in the team.
"Ultimately, Mikel Arteta has all his players pulling in the same direction. The goal is a Premier League title and getting a far as they can in the Champions League."
Listen to the Football Daily podcast on BBC Sounds
[BBC]
