Why zero goals is impressive for Arsenal

Are you a glass half-full or half-empty type of person? A pessimist or optimist?

Dependent on your answer, Arsenal's start to the campaign will give you either encouragement or fill you with concern.

Well forget your worries for a moment, we are going to focus on the positive aspect of Arsenal's start to the season, their Goals Against column.

We are only two games in, and the newspapers are full of 'Robin Van Persie this' or 'Robin Van Persie' that with regard to their strikers, but it is their new captain who has led the way at the back.

Thomas Vermaelen missed the start of last season for the Gunners through injury, and the Arsenal faithful will be relieved he has no such trouble this time around.

Arsenal's two clean sheets have come against Sunderland and Stoke City, and it was the result against Tony Pulis's side which should give the Gunners most satisfaction.

Now neither Sunderland or Stoke offer the most potent strikeforces, but Stoke are an awkward team to play against, and Arsenal kept their threat to an absolute minimum.

The best thing about the results were that the clean sheets were achieved with first choice players missing. Goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny was unavailable and third choice stopper Vito Mannone had to step in between the sticks.

It was news which pre-game filled fans with dread, but their worries were proved wrong when Arsenal's rearguard proved resolute.

Also missing from both matches through was Laurent Koscielny, arguably Arsenal's best and certainly their most improved centre-back of last season.

Per Mertesacker is no slouch as a replacement, and the German international will not want to relinquish his spot when the Frenchman returns, so Arsenal's options going forward at the back are looking good.

Another first choice player missing is Bacary Sagna, Arsenal's right-back whose goal against Spurs ignited their memorable comeback in February's 5-2 victory.

Unlike at centre-back, there is no international defender with 80 plus caps ready to step in, but the young Carl Jenkinson. The 20-year-old will come up against tougher opponents than he has in Arsenal's first two matches, but he has coped well and proved himself so far to be no liabilty.

Supporters have been looking at defence as a possible weak point in Arsenal's armoury, and a new addition in the area could still be incoming, but the way they have started the season will have given Arsene Wenger food for thought in that area, and when their first choice players return, they will be even stronger.

If Arsenal can keep a clean sheet at Anfield next weekend, then they really will have impressed.

What do you think of Arsenal's defence?

image: © Ronnie Macdonald