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Premier League's shift: Defending regains its value under Arteta and Frank
Modern football's obsession with possession-based play has sidelined defensive rigor, but managers like Mikel Arteta and Thomas Frank are proving that balance-not just attacking flair-wins titles. As the Premier League's top six teams concede a goal or fewer per game on average this season, the data underscores a quiet revolution: clean sheets now correlate more strongly with points than ever before, with 83% of shutouts resulting in victories compared to 70% in 2008.
The statistics behind clean sheets
Former manager Tony Pulis, reflecting on his early Premier League days with Stoke City (2008-2011), revealed that a clean sheet historically averaged 2.4 points per game-double the 1.1 points gained from scoring a single goal. His teams' 35 clean sheets across three seasons translated to 83 points, or 2.37 points per shutout. Today, as goals-per-game rise and clean sheets grow rarer, their value has surged: preventing a goal now often outweighs scoring one.
Yet the league's tactical trend-prioritizing possession above all-has led to defensive vulnerabilities. Pulis critiques the "brainwashing" of young coaches into believing possession is "the only way," noting that overplaying at the back invites high-risk turnovers. Data shows a sharp increase in goals conceded from losses in a team's own half, a direct consequence of defensive lines stretched thin by insistence on building play from deep.
Arsenal's blueprint: Attack meets resilience
Under Arteta, Arsenal have mastered the equilibrium. Since his 2019 appointment, the Gunners have evolved into a side that marries free-flowing attacking football with league-leading defensive solidity. They conceded the fewest goals last season and again top that metric in 2025-26. Pulis highlights their structure: "They're brilliant in possession but even better at denying space behind." The system's success lies in its adaptability-pressing high when advantageous, but retreating into a compact block when needed.
"Football's fundamentals haven't changed: put the ball in one net and keep it out of the other. Arsenal do both better than anyone."
Tony Pulis, former Premier League manager
Tottenham's transformation under Frank
Contrast Tottenham's 2025-26 campaign with their 2024-25 struggles under Ange Postecoglou, where their "gung-ho" approach yielded goals at both ends. Frank's arrival has instilled pragmatism: Spurs now rank second in goals conceded, a stark improvement from last season's porous defense. Pulis draws parallels to his own philosophy: "I wanted players to move the ball forward quickly-long or short-rather than invite pressure by dwelling in our half." Frank's Spurs mirror this, reducing possession in their defensive third while limiting opponents' chances.
The challenge ahead? Emulating Arsenal's balance. Pulis is optimistic: "Given time, Frank will find that equilibrium. Right now, he's built the defensive platform-just as Arteta did."
The cost of neglecting defense
Pulis warns that defensive frailty is a relegation trap. Over the past two seasons, all three promoted teams suffered immediate demotion-each with the league's worst defensive records. This season, Sunderland (4th place) boast the 4th-best defensive record, while Burnley (18th) and Leeds (bottom three) leak goals at alarming rates. The pattern is clear: survival hinges on defensive organization, not just attacking prowess.
Even set-pieces-a growing threat-expose systemic flaws. Pulis laments the "laughable" defending on corners and free kicks, where zonal marking often sees players ball-watching instead of engaging in physical duels. Arsenal and Tottenham have improved here, though Pulis notes the Gunners still concede a disproportionate share of goals from dead-ball situations.
The north London derby: A tactical chess match
Sunday's clash between Arsenal and Tottenham may buck the recent trend of high-scoring derbies (averaging over three goals per game in the past five seasons). With both teams now prioritizing structural discipline, Pulis predicts a tighter affair: "It might not be a goal fest, but derbies have a way of defying expectations."
The broader lesson? Defending isn't just a relic of "old-school" football-it's the foundation of modern success. As Pulis puts it: "You can't win if you're always fire-fighting at the back." For Arteta and Frank, the numbers don't lie: balance beats dogma.
