Life’s a Pitch: ’1-0 to the Arsenal’

Something strange is happening at Arsenal. Clean sheets in each of their opening three matches, plus a defence that now starts from the Gunners’ frontline.

Any coincidence that Steve Bould, part of the notoriously miserly Arsenal backline under George Graham, has joined Arsène Wenger’s coaching staff? Not a chance, says Adrian Clarke, himself a former team-mate of the no-nonsense defender, who is loving the Gunners’ new-found parsimony.

In fact, Adrian goes so far as to suggest that Wenger’s men are showing the same desire to keep clean sheets as they are to score goals and how “1-0 to the Arsenal” could become as popular a chant at the Emirates as it once was at Highbury.

Having conceded seven goals in their first three games Liverpool can only look on at Arsenal’s new defensive solidity in admiration. In fact, they had a very good look at it in their last match, when the Gunners walked off with a 2-0 win at Anfield earlier this month.

A result that only added to the frustration among some kopites, already despondent over the club’s inability to replace Andy Carroll before the transfer window deadline and the team’s early struggles to adapt to new boss Brendan Rodgers’ way of playing.

But where some see misfortune, others see opportunity. Kristian Walsh, for example, reckons the conveyor belt of young talent can more than plug any gaps at Anfield this season.

Elsewhere, Mike Calvin ruffled a few feathers down at Upton Park this week when he suggested that West Ham taking on the tenancy of the Olympic Stadium was a depressing thought.

And a short trek up to north-east London to Tottenham, our panellists had a good chinwag about André Villas-Boas’ prospects at White Hart Lane. The Portuguese is still searching for his first win at Spurs and according to our pundits has been surprised by the amount of players the club has bought and sold this summer.

We also run the rule over another batch of summer transfers, predicting whether or not they’ll fly or flop at their new clubs.

Expert pundit videos

“Spurs did more business this summer than AVB expected”

The Life’s a Pitch team assesses Villas-Boas position as elements of the Spurs faithful begin to grumble at his team’s inability to win games.
Risky business? >

“Terry is still a valuable figure for club and country”

The Life’s a Pitch team discuss the impact and the importance of John Terry playing in Chelsea’s potentially controversial clash with QPR.
The main man >

Dempsey, Sinclair and Ramírez: Hit or Miss?

The Life’s a Pitch team looks at whether three deadline day signings will succeed or fail at their new clubs.
Fly or fail? >

Dembélé, García and Berbatov: Hit or Miss?

Will new boys Dembélé, García and Berbatov get the fans singing their names or ripping up their season tickets?
Hit or miss? >

Lively opinion blogs

Arsenal’s miserly defence already bearing hallmark of Bould

Former Gunner Adrian Clarke explains his delight that Arsenal are displaying as much determination to keep clean sheets as they are to score goals this season.
On the defensive >

Young talent can plug the gaps at Liverpool

Despite frustration among Liverpool fans at the disappointing start to the season, Kristian Walsh sees much reason for optimism in the youth ranks at Anfield.
Young guns >

West Ham’s Olympic Stadium tenancy is a depressing thought

Mike Calvin explains why the notion of a football team such as West Ham moving into the Olympic Stadium is selling the iconic venue short.
A new home >

Liverpool: more than a football club

As the search for justice reaches its pivotal point for the Hillsborough families today, Mike Calvin examines the role of a football club in a close community.
Justice >

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