The case for the defence is the best case for Arsenal becoming European champions for the first time.Mikel Arteta's team has the strongest defensive record across Europe's top five leagues this season. They have the most clean sheets (19), the fewest goals conceded (27), the lowest xG against (28.3) and the fewest shots on target faced (90). And when they are strong at the back, Arsenal win trophies.'Some people don't like it because we can be ugly and won't roll over,' says Nigel Winterburn, a defensive stalwart of the club for 13 years and three times a title winner, twice under George Graham and again under Arsene Wenger.'The thing that makes me laugh is that the people criticising Arsenal this season forget five years ago they were saying "Arsenal are a brilliant footballing team, but they're soft". What do you want?'When George Graham's Arsenal ended an 18-year wait for the title in 1989, it was a triumph forged on the solid bedrock of a settled defence. When they won it again in 1991, they conceded only 18 goals in 38 league games, and lost just once. Four of the defensive unit – David Seaman, Lee Dixon, Nigel Winterburn and Steve Bould – played in every game. Tony Adams missed only eight, including that one defeat while in prison for two months for crashing his car while drunk.It brought new meaning to the club once known for its wealth as the Bank of England Club. Different times of course. They are a little less English on the pitch and off it. Others are wealthier, and yet they are once again the most secure unit in the land. Arsenal's title triumphs in 1989, 1991 and 1998 were built on a rock-solid defence And their first championship for 22 years was no different as they kept 19 clean sheets, led by centre backs William Saliba (left), Gabriel (right) and goalkeeper David Raya (centre)