Arsenal: 8 Steps Arsene Wenger Has Taken To Revive The Gunners

8. Don't Let's Be Beastly To The Germans

Prior to 2011, Arséne Wenger didn't buy German players, with the exception of one: Jens Lehmann, purchased for a mere £2M in 2003. Instead, he famously preferred to build his team around a core of squad of French and English players with a few others scattered around here and there. Whilst that same status quo of French and English camaraderie still very much exists within Arsenal, in recent years, Arséne has looked to build into his side something it was sorely lacking: mental strength. Since 2011, Wenger has signed 6 German players: Per Mertesacker, Serge Gnabry, Thomas Eisfeld, Lukas Podolski, Gedion Zelalem and, most recently, Mesut –zil. Linked strongly to Julian Draxler in the transfer window just gone, Wenger will, without doubt, attempt to bring him into the ever-growing contingent of Germans amongst his squad come the summer. Why? Because the influence of the German presence amongst Arsenal goes far beyond the few players whom may line-up at the start of any given game. Oh no, that trademark German focus, concentration and composure has spread amongst all the ranks of The Arsenal. Boasting the 2nd best defensive record in the league-- only 1 goal conceded more than Chelsea-- and 8 goals fewer than at this time last season, Arsenal's resilience has improved drastically. On the face of it, 8 goals in of itself doesn't sound like much but when you consider how, for years, Arsenal were plagued with a reputation of being incapable of seeing games out; of conceding that one goal which changed 3 points into 1 and it's not hard to see where those extra 21 points have come from this season. UEFA Champions League finalists Borussia Dortmund couldn't get that goal, at home. Liverpool failed to get that goal at The Emirates when they needed it. The likes of Villa, Swansea, Stoke and Newcastle have bombed balls into the box into stoppage time, at home, this season, looking to get that one goal back that always rescued a point against leaky, mentally fragile Arsenal. Not any more. The Germans and their trademark mental strength a-rampant amongst Arsenal have seen to that.