Arsene Wenger has talked up Arsenal’s defensive stability but is ready for that to be tested to the limit by Manchester United’s “power”.

Wenger believes old foes United look much more like a Jose Mourinho side following his latest summer window.

Old Trafford has slowly become the land of the giants under Mourinho and he added Romelu Lukaku, Nemanja Matic and Victor Lindelof and also re-signed Zlatan Ibrahimovic to his squad in the close season to increase his quota of big men.

But Wenger has every reason to be confident his side can nullify the Old Trafford’s side threat.

Arsenal are on their best ever run of form at the Emirates having won their last 12 home league games on the spin.

Arsenal have been in excellent form defensively (
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Getty Images)
Arsenal's players celebrate (
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PA Wire)

Wenger said: “It’s all linked a little bit with confidence and the fact that we have been more stable defensively and a bit more patient maybe in our game.

“We are a team who puts many players in front of the ball when we attack so we are sometimes vulnerable on the counter-attacks.

“On that front maybe the fact that we play with three centre-backs helps a little bit to be caught less on counter attacking.”

Arsenal’s form has improved the mood around the club and in the stands and Wenger added: “That is always a consequence of your results and the way you play.

Wenger and Mourinho going head to head in May (
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Rex Features)
United are coming off the back of a win over Watford (
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Manchester United)

"We always tried to play good football but when results are not what are expected of course people become nervy. I put it down more to the fact that we have been defensively more stable.”

On Mourinho and United, Wenger said: “Yes, certainly they look more like a Mourinho team. He has had time to put his print on the team of course. He is now in his second year there.

“They look to be a strong team, yes. They have power, yes. They have a lot of power up front.

“Lukaku, now Ibrahimovic is back, Rashford, Martial. You cannot say these guys lack power.

“Overall I believe they are a dangerous side. If you look at their players they can be dangerous everywhere.

Mourinho speaks to Lukaku (
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Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
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“So our defensive performance will certainly be important, to be well organised when we don’t have the ball against them.”

Both teams are well off the pace behind runaway league leaders Manchester City.

Asked if everyone is now playing for second said: “You have to try. We are going step by step.

“At the moment we are too far, yes.

“Overall we just have to focus on our own results and not to worry too much about Man City.”

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