Arsenal's 'extraordinary' addition singled out by Mikel Arteta before Atletico Madrid clash

Arsenal have yet to concede in this season's Champions League and Mikel Arteta's side are due to welcome Atletico Madrid to North London in their third league phase game

Mikel Arteta has praised the “extraordinary” quality which Gabriel Heinze has brought to his Arsenal coaching set-up. Former Manchester United defender Heinze joined Arteta’s coaching staff this summer and it can be no coincidence that Arsenal’s statistics now look remarkable.

Arsenal have played eight games in the Premier League, conceded only three goals and they have yet to concede a goal in the Champions League as they prepare to face Atletico Madrid on Tuesday night. Heinze knows Arteta from their time together at Paris Saint Germain and the ex-Argentina star has brought in even more emphasis on keeping clean sheets.

It is early days but Arteta’s men are on course to break Chelsea's record of conceding just 15 goals in winning the title under Jose Mourinho and of course the Gunners have their own song of “1-0 to the Arsenal” from their European days.

Gunners boss Arteta said: “I think that's something very, very collective with all the coaches, with the players, with their commitments as well and Gabi added something different, that willingness to win, I think. We’ve seen that obviously through his career, that experience to win and to elevate somebody's level and ambition and drive to the highest limit and he's extraordinary at that.”

Arsenal are also the early pace-setters in the Premier League title race this season and they are already the bookies’ favourites to be crowned champions. The Gunners ground out a 1-0 win at Fulham where they dropped points in the past two seasons and Arteta says the players are growing but also have to be focused in every training session.

Arteta said: “It's true that the team shows a different kind of maturity, threat and probably conviction at this stage, but it's still very early. We have to do it now for another set of games and that's going to be the objective.

“The only thing that I embrace is when I see the team, the energy, the temperature, the commitment and the quality that they can deliver, that it gives me that conviction that we can go all the way. But that's it, that's just a feeling that the next day you have to prove it, the next training session you have to prove it and nothing else, and we cannot be busy thinking about those topics.”

Arsenal now face a tough test against Atletico and Diego Simeone, a manager that Arteta admires greatly but he also praised William Saliba who was pictured watching an Atletico game on the TV as soon as he boarded the team bus after Fulham on Saturday.

Arteta added: “Very pleased about that with William because I didn't encourage it. So it came from them, and that's the most powerful thing: that a game finishes, the job is done, and we've done it, but now, OK, what's next and what's the next challenge, and what's the next opportunity? And we know that it's going to be a really tough one.

“So the earlier we start to think about it and prepare, the better. So I love that initiative from the players and it tells you how much they want it and how focused they are in what is next. Simeone is someone that I look up to and learn from him in many situations and what is for me outstanding is his passion.

“I think for how long he's been in the game and in the same club with the same players, how you still have that hand and that capacity to transmit such an energy and willingness to win. It's a very tough environment that we live in and to keep convincing players you have to be extraordinary well.”