Arsenal's 2017/18 season has seen them exhibit some of their traditional failings and further personify the shortcomings that many observers feel that they simply cannot shake off.

Among those shortcomings is the perception that the Gunners do not put their foot in and tackle as much as they should.

Central defence and holding midfield have been problem areas in recent seasons and despite increased investment in those areas in the last two years, it has not helped Arsene Wenger's side avoid sliding down the league, into sixth place, leaving winning the Europa League as their last realistic route into next season's Champions League.

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There is no doubt that the soft centre is still present in Wenger's squad and Gunners fans are still waiting to see some more fire in the belly of the club's players.

Football FanCast wanted to run the numbers to see if this perception rang true, as well as examining who Arsenal's best five tacklers have been this season...

Kolasinac arrived at the Emirates Stadium this summer on a free transfer from Schalke and his physical, no-nonsense style impressed the fans initially.

As the season has worn on, the defender has been in and out of the side due to his patchy form as he has struggled slightly to adapt in his first season in English football.

The signing of Kolasinac represented something of a shift in the profile and physique of player Wenger has brought into Arsenal and that has seen him make the fifth most tackles, despite not being a regular first-team player.

Monreal has played as both a centre-back and full-back this season as Wenger has oscillated between three-man and four-man backlines.

He is another player whose contract situation is yet to be resolved at Arsenal but he is underlining his importance to the club despite that - in the tackling stakes anyway.

Not the most physical or quickest player, Monreal is still a favourite among the Arsenal fans and is a proper defender, which is something that can't be said about all the Gunners' defensive options.

Mustafi rightly received criticism for his meek aerial surrender which allowed Sergio Aguero to open the scoring in the EFL Cup final but it should not be forgotten that he is an international centre-half, who commanded big money when he arrived from Valencia.

There were times when he looked like the top-class partner Laurent Koscielny has long since needed but they have become fewer and further between this season.

Nevertheless, he is still putting his foot in more than any other Arsenal centre-back to claim his place on this list.

Bellerin might not be a player who immediately stands out as a prolific tackler but it is clear that the 3-cap Spain international does not shy away from a challenge.

He is seen by some as the latest Gunners player who is good when the pressure is off but wilts in tougher times but these tackling stats go some way to proving that not to quite be the case.

He has lightening recovery pace but he is obviously not worried about making a tackle when the occasion calls for it.

Xhaka - valued at £31.5 by Transfermarkt - was brought in at the start of the 2016/17 season to bring some steel to Wenger's defensive midfield options, who were becoming increasingly playmakers.

His maiden season saw him put in some wild challenges and get into trouble with referees but that willingness to make a tackle was exactly what Arsenal have been lacking.

I'm not sure he's the complete answer to the Gunners' long-standing holding midfield issues but he is certainly a player who will put his foot in - and Arsenal certainly need more of those.