Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta believes two players in particular have taken his team to the next level ahead of Sunday's crunch match against Manchester City.
The Gunners haven't won at the Etihad in the Premier League since 2015 but Arteta thinks Declan Rice and Kai Havertz have brought the necessary ingredients to end that run.
Arsenal's two big summer signings last year were bringing in Rice for £105million and Havertz for £65m, while Jurrien Timber also arrived but has missed much of his debut campaign through injury.
While no one doubted the signing of Rice, many questioned why such a huge fee was spent on Havertz after a difficult few years at Chelsea.
Arsenal news: Mikel Arteta singled out Declan Rice and Kai Havertz ahead of the Man City clash
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Rice, to no one's surprise, has fitted in seamlessly at the Emirates but it took his German team-mate a little while longer.
Havertz is now Arsenal's No 9 and brings qualities that Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah don't possess.
He is also scoring goals, having netted in his last four league matches, while Rice has started every top-flight game this term.
The pair are both over six feet tall and increased the average height of the Arsenal side who have excelled in both boxes.
Arteta believes that is a crucial element that Rice and Havertz have added but has also hailed their mental capabilities to succeed at the highest level.
The Spaniard has described both players as 'game-winners' and says he wants other members of the squad to follow suit.
Arteta told Sky Sports: "[Height] is a huge quality of [Rice and Havertz] but as well their intelligence, their character, the passion they have for the game and how competitive they are.
"You have to add a lot of elements. One specific element is not enough at this level to make a huge impact on the team. But those two have brought a lot of qualities.
"To win big trophies, you need game-winners. You need world-class players who can win you the game at any moment, players who can open the door when it is closed.
"We are developing those players because they are necessary for the big moments."
Arsenal fans fell in love with Rice the moment he pulled on the club's famous red and white jersey last July.
It took them a bit longer to get around the idea of signing a player one of their local rivals clearly didn't want anymore.
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Arsenal news: Declan Rice has fitted in seamlessly since joining from West Ham
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Havertz started in midfield as a Granit Xhaka replacement but a move up front has really changed people's opinions.
Arteta said: "In both roles, it is his intelligence and his capacity to read situations.
"He is a constant threat. He can threaten you in behind, he can come to some good spaces and provoke a lot of issues positionally for the opponent.
"And yeah, he has become a real threat in the opponent's box as well because now he is scoring goals."
Arsenal news: Kai Havertz has won over many of his doubters in recent months
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Arsenal suffered a 4-1 humbling at City last season but Arteta admits he already knew his plans for the summer window before that match.
"To be fair, not much on that, if you are talking about recruitment," he said.
"It was more about the ability to play those big matches at that level. That is something else.
"It was a painful experience but probably one we needed. Hopefully, we learned a lot from it."
