Match Preview: Arsenal v Burnley; Blueprint for Getting Back to Winning Ways
It’s been a bit of a drop down to earth this week for us Arsenal faithful. With the loss to Southampton last week to the midweek drop against Tottenham, we’ve come back to understanding that this is still a work in progress. However, Arsenal still have a chance to keep touch with their ultimate goal, getting back to the Champion’s League, as they take on Burnley this Saturday at the Emirates.
Selection Headaches
Over the last few matches a lot of the good will extended to Unai Emery has been diminished ever so slightly. His team selections and lack of rotation has hindered the last few games.
Specifically, his insistence on dropping Granit Xhaka to cover the CB position and moving Guendouzi to the middle has unbalanced this team and caused problems in both areas.
We all know, Granit Xhaka is not a CB and while he may look passable there is too much of a chance for error in his defending abilities that he leaves us vulnerable. Especially, when he’s partners with the likes of Koscielny and Monreal who not only are just returning from injury, are on their last leg physically.
For all of Guendouzi’s promise, he is still a young talent who needs time. For me he still doesn’t have the greatest touch and his biggest issue is that is vision and seeing a pass is a step behind. It’s not that he doesn’t see the pass, its that he see’s it late, plays it and turns it over or puts it out of reach of the intended player.
Sure, there are moments it comes off but not with any level of consistency. It’s not his fault per se. He’s still young and he will grow and there is no doubt he will be a talent. But against Southampton and then Tottenham he was one of our biggest problems.
Additionally, the side is devoid of any creativity in its attack right now. A point that is highlighted by the magnificent runs in behind Aubameyang is making that result in nothing because he’s not getting service.
That means one or both of Özil and/or Ramsey need to play. Yes, they seem to not fit how Emery wants us to play or they don’t give him the effort he wants – they still on their day, have the ability to unlock play, find space or make runs that can create opportunities for themselves or other players and over the last few matches we simply haven’t been doing that.
As for the CB issue, have fait in the youngsters Unai. Zech Medley is learning his trade as a CB in your U23 squad. Rather than risk putting someone in the back line who will be playing out of position, use one of the U23 players alongside a pro. At a minimum it’s a wash in the chances for mistakes.
Playing against Burnley
We know how Burnley are going to play. They are a one-dimensional team with one dimensional success.
Goalscoring isn’t a strength of Burnley, but they have always offset that by displaying a strong defensive structure and winning by a simple 1 goal margin.
Sean’ Dyche’s team sets up defensively in 4-4-1-1, sitting deep and narrow with the FBs tucking in and the DM sitting deep in front of the CBs. This structure shown in the image below, allows Burnley to do a couple things:
- They will funnel their opponents into central areas and congest passing channels forcing attacking teams to shoot from central areas
- If attackers go wide, the force either early crosses or deep wide crosses with everyone getting back to effectively to cover the crosses.
In their defensive set up the create minimal space between the lines with everyone organized and committed to the defensive structure Dyche has coached. It’s a simple yet effective approach that make it hard for teams like Arsenal to play against.
Beating the Low Block
While Emery’s approach is different in some respects to Arsene Wenger’s he still wants his team to play fluid football. And against a deep block, fluidity of play has its advantages.
When players in a deep block look to play man to man it can have the effect of pulling apart their shape. What needs to happen then is positional rotation that hopefully will drag the defender from their original position.
It forces the defending team to constantly make decisions. Do they switch the man they are marking after the rotation is complete or do they stick to strict man marking. Not switching requires the effort of sticking with a direct opponent and it is inherently reactive. A smart player who makes sudden, escape moves in any direction can create enough separation to receive the ball.
This is why someone like Özil and Ramsey will be needed in this match. Each of them finds space on their own. Özil by floating in between lines looking to occupy the free space and gaps teams create. Ramsey makes those powerful direct runs that force defenders to make decisions.
Throw in their movement along with big switches and constant rotation in the MF and Arsenal might have a chance to disrupt the low block and get behind the back line with chances.
Players to Watch
Arsenal: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Arsenal need the leagues leading scorer to find his scoring boots again
Burnley: Jack Cork. He’ll look to be the conduit with which Burnley tries to shut down Arsenal’s shooting lanes
Probable Arsenal Lineup
Leno; Maitland-Niles, Koscielny, Sokratis, Monreal; Xhaka, Torreira, Özil; Ramsey, Iwobi, Aubameyang
Injuries and Suspensions
Arsenal: Mkhitaryan (ankle), Bellerin (calf), Kolasinac (thigh), Mustafi (hamstring) Holding (ACL), Welbeck (ankle), Mavropanos (groin)
Burnley: Lennon (knee), Brady (knock), Gudmundsson (hamstring), Defour (knee), Ward (knee)
What the Manager Says (courtesy Arsenal.com)
Each match is very important and when other teams are winning, they are not stopping, they’re improving. We need, after our defeat in Southampton, we need the three points. But I am happy with the players. I think at the Emirates we are continuing strongly and for example, in the last match against Tottenham on Wednesday, the spirit is very good. The players pushed and the players created the chances, and now we continue working on our efficiency to score. I trust in my players, I trust in our strikers, and tomorrow we need every supporter to help us. We are also going to push to give them a good match with energy, by playing well, and also with the three points in victory. We will play with a big respect for Burnley because they are a very good team with very good players. They played very well organised and also defensively they are very strong, and they have the personality to play with the long ball, the second action, a lot of crosses and have players with quality to score. This is a big match tomorrow.
Form (Last 5)
Arsenal: WWDWL
Burnley: LLLWL
Goals Scored (average per game)
Arsenal: 1.9 (home)
Burnley: 0.75 (away)
Goals Conceded (average per game)
Arsenal 0.88 (home)
Burnley 2
Match Officials
Referee: Kevin Friend (12M 46Y 1R)
Assistants: Matthew Wilkes, Derek Eaton
Fourth official: Simon Hooper
Broadcast Information
UK: SkySports 12.30 BST
US: NBC Sports Network 7:30 AM EST
Match Facts (courtesy BBC.co.uk)
- Arsenal are unbeaten in their past 10 matches against Burnley, winning nine and conceding just four goals.
- Burnley have lost all six competitive fixtures at the Emirates by an aggregate score of 18-3.
- The Clarets last won away in this fixture in 1974 – they have lost the subsequent seven matches.
- Arsenal sustained a first defeat in 15 Premier League games at Southampton last time out (W10, D4).
- They have lost just two of their 18 home Premier League games in 2018, with both defeats coming against Manchester City.
- Arsenal could lose consecutive Premier League fixtures for the first time since the opening two games of the season.
- They have won their last 27 home league matches against sides in the relegation zone since a 4-4 draw with Tottenham in 2008.
- The Gunners have not lost at home to a team in the bottom three for 11 years, a 1-0 loss to West Ham.
- They have not led at half-time in any of their 17 Premier League games this season (level in 13 and behind in four).
- Unai Emery has made a league-high 15 substitutions before the start of the second half.
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been directly involved in 27 goals in 30 Premier League appearances, scoring 20 and assisting seven.
YAMA Predicts:
Arsenal 2 – 1 Burnley
