Life’s a Pitch: Are Arsenal improving or not?

Opinion appears to be split among most Arsenal fans on whether the Gunners are making progress or not…

The naysayers point to perpetually selling their best talents each summer, without adequately replacing them, and the ongoing trophy drought: seven years and counting.

But the optimists list annual Champions League football, financial prudence, a commitment to youth development, plus specifically this season, the emergence of the most balanced Arsenal side in some years.

One such person is Adrian Clarke, who believes that the summer of 2012 will go down in history as Arsène Wenger’s best spending spree – for acquiring Santi Cazorla, Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud – instead of the time he sold goal machine Robin van Persie to Manchester United.

Any team would miss the scoring talents of Van Persie, Adrian admits, but the combined talents of the new trio have brought more balance to the Gunners and less reliance on one player. And while Arsenal have made a modest start to the season, the three new boys are already showing signs of adapting well to life in the Premier League and, as Adrian argues, look well placed to make their mark at the club.

Giroud struggled to find his feet when he first arrived, but Mike Calvin believes the Frenchman is reaching the stage now where his performances are gradually helping Gunners everywhere forget about Van Persie.

Fellow forward Theo Walcott, meanwhile, has been the name on most people’s lips at the Emirates this season. The England attacker, whose contract runs out next summer, has so far been unable to agree a new deal at the club and fears are growing the likes of Liverpool, Chelsea or Manchester City are poised to lure him away.

‘Sign him up!’ is the advice being bellowed out to Arsenal executives by the Life’s a Pitch pundits when they discuss the impasse. Find out why.

Away from Arsenal, we’ve been looking at the challenge facing new Chelsea boss Rafa Benitez, whether Millwall are serious Championship promotion candidates, and running the rule over the latest transfer gossip.

And Michael Cox gets his tactics whiteboard out and tries to help Newcastle boss Alan Pardew solve the puzzle of how to get frontmen Demba Ba and Papisse Cissé to form an effective partnership.

Expert pundit videos

“Arsenal have to make a statement and fight to keep Walcott”

The Life’s a Pitch team discuss Arsenal’s handling of the Theo Walcott contract dispute.
Contract rebel >

Liverpool eye Sturridge, Cahill back to Everton and Henry to Arsenal?

Get the latest news on the proposed January transfers of Sturridge, Cahill and Henry with the Life’s a Pitch team.
Transfer talk >

“Every time Abramovich sacks a manager mid-season, it works”

The Life’s a Pitch team discuss the Chelsea fans’ response to the appointment of Benitez and assess the Spaniard’s prospects at Stamford Bridge.
He does know what he’s doing >

“Millwall can seriously challenge for promotion”

The Life’s a Pitch team discuss Millwall’s promotion credentials given the Lions’ 10-match unbeaten run in the Championship.
Promotion contenders? >

Lively opinion blogs

Giroud: helping Arsenal fans forget about Van Persie

Despite a slow start to life at Arsenal, Mike Calvin believes that Frenchman Olivier Giroud is beginning to blossom at the Emirates.
Making his mark >

Why 2012’s spending spree will go down as Wenger’s best

Adrian Clarke explains why he believes the combined signings of Cazorla, Podolski and Giroud will be remembered as Wenger’s best bit of business at Arsenal.
Sound investment >

Pardew may never solve Newcastle’s Ba and Cissé puzzle

Michael Cox explains why the odds are stacked against Newcastle boss Alan Pardew getting strikers Demba Ba and Papiss Cissé playing as an effective partnership.
Conundrum >

Mourinho and Ronaldo move to Man Utd not out of the question

As unlikely as it sounds, Mike Calvin explains why it’s not out of the realms of possibility that Real Madrid duo José Mourinho and Cristiano Ronaldo could end up at Old Trafford this summer.
Old Trafford switch beckoning? >

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