Bernd Leno has warned his Arsenal team-mates that they must all work to improve their defence if they are to finish in the Premier League top four this season.
Arsenal are the only team in the league without an away clean sheet to their name this season and, following Saturday's 2-1 win at Huddersfield, have conceded 37 goals in 26 games, more than any other side in the top six.
There is little time for Unai Emery to fix the problem before Arsenal begin the decisive run of fixtures in March that could define their season. Back-to-back clashes away to Tottenham and home to Manchester United start that month, with only Emirates Stadium games with Southampton and Bournemouth offering them a chance to test their backline in the Premier League.
Leno said: "We have to work on this because the defence for me is the most [important] thing to enable us to get back into the top four.
"Today I thought we did a very good job because it was not only the defence, but the whole team who must defend the goal.
"It's easy to say it is the goalkeeper and the defence are the reasons why we don't concede many goals, but it is the whole team.
"The whole team has to defend and we have improved from December, when maybe we had some games where we were not so good, and we are still working on that."
Arsenal's hopes of securing that first clean sheet on the road evaporated only in the added time at the John Smith's Stadium, Huddersfield's energy and application getting their just rewards when a goalmouth scramble ended with Sead Kolasinac bundling the ball into his own net.
But for Leno Huddersfield might have earned more than a creditable defeat. The 26-year-old made five saves, more than double that of his opposite number, as the Terriers dominated the second half in their pursuit of parity.
The German goalkeeper appeared to be taken by surprise when he was told of Arsenal's dismal defensive streak on the road, saying: "This season, we don't have a clean sheet away?
"I think this season we have conceded goals too easily. Sometimes it happens at the end of games - Cardiff at the end, Newcastle at the end and today at the end.
"It always seems to happen when we are two goals in front, so maybe we are losing a little bit of concentration because we feel too comfortable when the games are coming to the end."
Once more it was Arsenal's frontline that carried the day, the impressive Alex Iwobi scoring the opener and Alexandre Lacazette tapping in what would be the winner just before half-time.
"For me the most important area is the defence because we have the quality in the front line.
"We all want to improve and we can do that by being strong in the defence."
Juwcdikpry
0
mesut ozil in unai out
tenclnorz
0
without ozil,4get top 4
Jewcdinory
1
emery must forget top ozil is the only answer for arsenal to finish on top fpur
rozceklmyz
1
i vote Emery out
rozceklmyz
1
we all want olzeil,to play before he lives a club
Sotabentu
0
To end in the top activate the both backwings and a goal Hungry Midfield pair to feed the Front attack line with More Through passes, Cut backs and few Square Passes to Arsenal Attackers.
Muhinrs
0
Leno: "It's easy to say it is the goalkeeper and the defence are the reasons why we don't concede many goals, but it is the whole team.” No one said that... because it’s no true...!??! 🤨
toddeikrsz
0
uselessness emery.
very true brother
toddeikrsz
0
Tell Emery to first player Ozil. We need entertainment football not the crap we're witnessing at arsenal. Emery is burying very expensive talent in ozil to waste
sioabimoy
0
thats forty fifty each
sioabimoy
0
we have no chance top 4 finish we have no defence top 4 wont happen we need 5 or 6 new players forty fifty million have fire sale with 6
ChrisMule2
0
good that u know its whole team not only the defenders bcoz even the midfielders fail to hold the position together with the strikes failing to convert chances. the best way to defend is to attack... we need attacking football back at arsenal.
duyckloyz
0
Leno.....u're right. But tell yo Emery to play Ozil. We (Arsenal) we don't av gud players than Ozil to hold & control the mid field.
DeejayKVibezPro
0
your right man
Jueblnrsuy
1
Leno you're right, but the best way to defence is to attack. You can't be defending and allowing your opponent to put pressure on you. Football is a battle, if you want to win you have to attack your opponent, if you don't you know what is going to happen to you, you'll be defeated. Look at Man city, Liverpool they attack to win. They never sit back or defence for you to put pressure on them to score or win them. Modern days football is all about the midfield, if your team can dominate the midfield, your defenders will be relaxing, look at Barca, Man city you can see that most times their defenders are the ones controlling the ball from the midfield, they played you half field dominate the whole 90mins. What will Dennis Suarez will offer to Arsenal that Ozil cannot offer? Unai is not go enough to take Arsenal to next level, people are blaming players that the players are not good but that is rubbish. The coach tactics is not good for the players. They said Man Utd players were not good enough to play under Mourhino, but now that he Mourhino is gone, everyone can see that Utd players are good enough to play any team. So if Unai begins to play attacking football you will see the best from the arsenal players. Look at Man city, Liverpool, Tottenham, even Utd midfield players, they dominate the game, but how about arsenal? It's a pity that Arsenal plays the worst pattern of football in EPL
Donblopr
3
uselessness emery.
nitabkmrty
0
Thanks so much Leno, we have to work on the team defence. The defence should know when and where to delay with the ball and at the appropriate time. We should put time into consideration when from the begining and the end of the match. When we keep up this team spirit, then we are ready for the 4th place. Let's keep up the team spirit as we receive victory.
hoocdiltu
0
I agree with you 100% Our defence is very weak n lazy .
Wukadirstz
2
great thanks to Leno,but our coach makes most times the worst subsitutes ever e.g bringing suareze yet u have ozil ,we don't no whether u beef him ,emery must live out morinhios habits of beefing players ozil is a world fast class player whom he shouldn't bench.
bucdlnorsz
1
It's not the defence alone but the sloppiness from our forward players is dragging us down
janabarca
1
just leave jorginho unmarked he will.help arsenal to win
mekekmtuyz
1
is the right thing d keeper saide we have problem with defence the player need to improve their quality as a defender
Pehdoyz
0
,LENO SAID IT ALL.
Waebcdmoyz
1
Leno is very right the defence is not spurb
Payacklruy
0
poouywqdfhugup Awobi's defence is so poor that we are always scored from his side.
can you leave Iwobi out of this? he scored a goal what else do you want? Is he a defender or an attacking midfielder? u know nothing about football.
Joceikopu
1
let's just give our coach money to buy new players
Yuclmnoz
0
You must be dreaming
Votdeinpst
1
True talk denfence problems and wrong sub by coach Emery
paybcikruy
1
Thank you for your understanding and support
deyiorsuy
0
I agree with leno .It important defence for Arsenal .because Arsenal is big problem Defence.Emrey said lasttime Arsenal has noy defenece problem only playmaker.he said a crayz man .he does not undertstand the Arsenal problem.
Litbcelms
0
that's true we need young defenders
zikckps
0
today Chelsea WAS arsenal！
Better arsenal than cherseal
maodilou
0
I totally agree with Leno. Our defense is always limping towards the end of the games.
yeocdruyz
3
Arsenal are certainly not beating United to anything. Not happening and never gonna happen
LudwigForsac
1
I love Arsenal, but the defence.. .
fuuaimruy
2
The defenders re too old they don't have that strength, we need to let all of them go their time is up
radcdlno
3
lol a good joke boy
EpaphrasDaniel
4
Mourinho after reading this be like ... - "Did anyone order a bus???" 😂😂😂
Piyblnops
1
chelsea will back soon
nesmnoprsz
0
poouywqdfhugup Awobi's defence is so poor that we are always scored from his side.
Joshly25
1
Leno had said it all, all we need is defense in our goal line, we conceded more goals more than any other team, Arsenal really need to look into this situation
Sacikpr
1
dats the problem with arsenal,defense
yourself
2
Wenger's Arsenal have a few premier league tirophies. Maybe Wenger can send Carragher a photo so he can see what they look like.
postage
2
I mean Arsenal actually wins trophies, so i dont think liverpool can compare with them
Kimjoyes
1
today Chelsea WAS arsenal！
chidesco1
3
Sorry Leno, but the league table has been set. The way it is now, is the way it'll be till the end. Arsenal should try and make the UCL through winning the Europa league
Loveneuer
1
True Chelsea fans me included know he's right. Don't get me wrong Chelsea have put in some terrible performances over the years.
Fatherof
2
At least Arsenal still played exciting football while losing.
Jimmymay
1
Liverpool back on top but should be anyway. Just remember they are lucky Man City that the game in midweek was brought forward or they would be 6 points behind again right now and under more pressure to beat Chelsea tomorrow.
Mocca
1
And what a win it was. Pathetic. Emery needs to do better.