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Thanks to goals from new transfer additions Lukas Podolski and Santi Cazorla, Arsenal picked up their first win of the 2012-13 Premier League season, 2-0 over Liverpool.
After opening the season with scoreless draws against Sunderland and Stoke City, the Gunners move up from 13th to eighth on the table. It was also Arsenal’s eighth win over Liverpool in their last 14 Premier-League fixtures.
Podolski, who came over from Cologne, scored his first-ever goal in a Gunners kit at the 31st minute to give Arsenal an early 1-0 lead. The Gunners would strike again on a goal from Cazorla at the 68th minute.
Cazorla, a summer transfer from Spanish club Malaga, fired the Gunners two goals clear of the Anfield hosts, who are off to their worst start since 1962-63. Liverpool would dominate in shots, 19-11, corner kicks, 10-2, and time of possession, 53 percent to 47 percent, but could not solve Arsenal’s Italian goalkeeper, Vito Mannone.
Mannone would deny Liverpool strikers Jonjo Shelvey and Luis Suarez late in the match to ensure Arsenal’s third clean sheet of the season. For the Reds, who are hoping to improve on their eight-place finish in 2011-12, starting off with one point in three games has caused many to turn optimism into worry.
For Arsenal, this also marks the third straight game without conceding a goal, and symbolizes their transition from a wide-open, high-flying offensive outfit to a more conservative, defensive-minded side, a drastic departure from Arsenal teams of their storied past.
With Podolski and Cazorla looking to be in form, it will only be a matter of time before the Gunners will once again contend for the Premiership title.
Robert D. Cobb is the NBA Network Manager for Rant Media Network, Featured Writer of the Cleveland Cavaliers, and Featured Columnist for the Cleveland Browns and Arsenal Gunners.
In addition to covering the NBA, I also cover MLB, NFL, NHL and Champions League soccer news, rumors and opinions, please follow me on Twitter at@RobertCobb_76
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