Jurgen Klopp thinks Arsenal are a really good side capable of making the next step, but only if they sort out their defensive organisation.

Arsenal are showing signs of improvement under Mikel Arteta, and Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is watching on with interest. Though results are a bit mixed so far – with two wins, two draws and a defeat – the performances are almost universally encouraging.

Klopp gave Arsenal as an example of one of the clubs not currently challenging Liverpool in the Premier League, but who could if they make the right adjustments.

“Arsenal, for example, are a team offensively that are still a really good side but defensive organisation doesn’t work out yet,” Klopp said.

“The moment they sort that, they make the next step. So that is the league we are facing. We have to develop, it is not if we want to. We have to, to be as successful as possible.”

From that point of view, it’s very encouraging to see some defensive improvements under Arteta.

Though the individual errors are still there, the team are conceding far fewer chances overall. Only four teams in the Premier League concede fewer shots per game than Arteta’s Arsenal have in his first four league games.

Arguably, they do also need to be scoring a few more goals. Under Arteta, the record for goals scored is 1, 1, 2, 1, 1. Two goals in every game would’ve been enough for four wins and a draw. Still, the defence is rightly the priority, for now, as Klopp says.