One Nil to the Arsenal (...and the United... and the Liverpool...)

"One Nil to the Arsenal!"

The infamous chant of the dour George Graham years.

Well, that much-maligned scoreline returned with a vengeance last weekend.

Not only did Arsenal scrape the minimum 1–0, but two of their co-conspirators in title aspirations–Liverpool and Manchester United–had to settle for it too.

The record-busting 7–4 score from the Rugby World Cup...sorry...Fratton Park (courtesy of Portsmouth and Reading), followed by last night's 4–4 between Tottenham and Aston Villa, would suggest the rest of the EPL are showing the alleged 'Big Four' up in terms of excitement and entertainment.

Whilst the rest go goal potty, the preseason speculation that the Big Four teams would serve up the tightest title race for years has seemed only to translate into us having to settle for tight 1–0 wins.

Scratch beneath the surface, though, and we see that one 1–0 differs wildly from another.

Manchester United's smash 'n grab away at Birmingham––despite being outplayed at times and needing a goal line clearance to save themselves–is worrying for the defending champions.

It is their fifth 1–0 this season. All the clichés about champions having to grind out victories when not playing well have been trotted out, but Manchester United have scored just seven goals in eight EPL games this season.

Never mind the fact that Portsmouth matched that goal total in one match.

Meanwhile, title rivals Arsenal have hit five in just one game, and Liverpool have romped to six. Luck and grit will only get Manchester United so far. They need their striking All Stars to click, and quickly.

Liverpool's schizophrenic start to the season has meant, in the blink of an eye, that they have bewilderingly veered from the dazzling (6–0 against Derby) to desperate (1–1 against Porto, where stringing passes together seemed beyond them).

Their three points away at Wigan will come as welcome relief after the frustration of successive scoreless draws, and Benitez will be hoping it signifies a return to the promise of early season form.

Arsenal fans will be most satisfied with their 1–0 squeaker. They have already shown the consistency Liverpool so far lacked, and the free-scoring that deserted Manchester United.

What they have lacked in recent years is the very ability to win these battling 1–0 matches. Not only is this Arsenal's first one goal victory away this season, but also their first victory over West Ham, after three losses.

No doubt Wenger and the Arsenal fans will be hoping this is exactly the title-winning difference they've needed.

And finally, what of the other Big Four team–Chelsea?

With the shock of their manager being shown the door just a handful of games into the season; losses to United, Liverpool, and Villa already chalked up; and then being held to a draw against European minnows Rosenborg, the last thing they needed was the 0–0 draw at home to Fulham this weekend.

They already trail Arsenal by seven points, with the Gooners having a game in hand as well. For all the criticism of United's poor form, at least they're getting the points on the board.

Chelsea's beleaguered fans would love to be assessing the merits of a 1 - 0 victory.