Arsenal captain Laurent Koscielny has highlighted that the team have begun producing positive results against the top six with Unai Emery at the helm of things.
The north London side struggled to compete with the elite teams during the final stages of the Arsene Wenger era, and this proved the prime reason behind the failure to make the top four in successive campaigns.
However, with Emery succeeding Wenger for the head coach role, there has been a certain improvement in terms to the performances against the top six and Koscielny has highlighted the same.
In a press conference covered by Football.London, the former France international revealed that the team have remain more measured with their approach against the elite teams with Emery being versatile with his tactical formation.
He added that the club have not quite managed to end their poor record against the top six on the road, but the team are moving on the right path with the possibility of sealing a top-four spot when the season concludes.
He said: “We have won 12 points compared to six last season. It shows how we are approaching those games differently. It is not just about attacking.
“We are more intelligent, we are more measured in our plans. We can change tactics halfway through a game, we can set up differently.
“The manager is using different formations and it shows his flexibility and the players’ too which is good I think. Of course, we still need to do better away from home in the big games but we are on the right path.”
Arsenal are currently fourth in the league standings with 60 points and they have a good opportunity to maintain or better their position as they won’t be facing any of the big six for the rest of the season.
However, the away record remains a concern regardless of the opposition at the moment and the five trips from the final eight matches could determine whether they can end the wait for Champions League football.
Elsewhere, winning the Europa League offers another route to the elite competition and they stand a chance to meet Chelsea in the final. Based on recent history, Arsenal would certainly fancy their prospects of beating the Blues in Baku.
