The former Manchester United defender heaped praise on the Gunners, following their 2-0 win over Aston Villa at the weekend.

The 49-year-old broadcaster said on 'The Gary Neville Podcast': "We thought it would be tough, a real test for Arsenal as Villa are a good side.

"What you can't deny is Arsenal's defensive record. It's not all down to David Raya, but when you do get past that very, very good defence, centre-back pairing, the midfield, the shape of the team is fantastic as well."

Neville believes Mikel Arteta's team have evolved into a very adaptable team over recent years.

He said: "Whether they are pressing high up the pitch, or whether they are defending deep, I really like what Mikel Arteta's done.

"They're not saying: 'we're a high-pressing team'. They can, but they can also play deep and they can adapt to the style of the game with the way in which the game is going.

"Arteta has got a strong team with Arsenal. They were put under pressure from set pieces in the last 25 minutes and they handled it really well. They are a powerhouse team now."

So far, Arsenal have only signed Italian defender Riccardo Calafiori during the summer transfer window.

But Neville views their stability as a strength, rather than a weakness, for the Gunners.

Neville said: "Some of the most successful transfer windows is where you keep stability in your squad and you add one or two that make it the final two pieces of the jigsaw. In the two games against Villa last season, left-back was a problem.

"We saw what City did, in the last ten games of the season, Josko Gvardiol's impact from left-back was immense. Not just from a defensive point of view, but an attacking one - his power, strength, height. Arteta has reacted to that."