Match Preview: Arsenal v Burnley; Establishing Some Consistency

Arsenal v Burnley provides the Gunners with a chance to continue to build up momentum heading into a crunch tie with Chelsea. With the top of the table tightening up, getting maximum points from those fixtures they should, is an imperative.

Burnley are an extremely organized team and in the last meeting at Turf Mor, Arsenal were saved at the death by Laurent Koscielny’s stoppage time winner. As they come to the Emirates, the team that looks to overachieve will look to do the same against the hosts.

In the last tie, Arsenal had 67% of the possession and managed 18 shots. However, those 18 shots were wasteful as only 3 managed to get on target. If Arsenal are going to maintain their push towards the pinnacle of the Premier League, they can ill afford to be as wasteful again.

Of course a lot of how Arsenal approach the match is dependent on the lineup Arsene Wenger puts out. Lately, it’s been Olivier Giroud up top. While the Frenchman continues to score, he hampers the way Arsenal like to play.

With Sanchez in the striker role and the quick wingers we have in play, Arsenal are fluid and fast. The movement around the box is sharper and has a better chance of creating gaps in the opposition defense – even ones that are compact.

With Giroud, the fluidity goes out the window. We look for him to muscle himself free and make runs within the box. Weirdly, we don’t seem to play to his strength and we still look to pull apart defenses. Only in last minute gasps do we go more direct and thus playing to Giroud’s primary ability.

Last week against Swansea, the dynamic of our playing changed dramatically after Giroud went off. We were better with the ball and the three goals all came off of good movement with the ball.

Its not a knock on Giroud. I like him, but he seems better situated to the last 20 of a match that we are looking for that change.

Additionally, with Burnley likely to sit back, I’d like to see Wenger persist with the Xhaka-Ramsey duo in the midfield. Burnley will cede possession and we need all the effective passers we can get, especially in the midfield to try and unlock what should be a very well organized team.

Depending on the results of Saturday’s matches Arsenal could stand to make up substantial headway in the title chase. Coming out a slow and prodding against a well-organized side will only embolden them, much like the match at Turf Mor (where admittedly we were lucky.

With Watford up next, and then Chelsea after, we can’t afford to let this opportunity slip away.

Players to Watch:
Arsenal. Aaron Ramsey. Assuming he starts, a prolonged run in the side can only enhance a player whom Arsenal need to be on top form.

Burnley. Tom Heaton. Given the number of shots Burnley concede – he’ll be important in this match if they are to stay in it

Probable Lineups:

click to enlarge

Injuries and Suspensions:
Arsenal: Debuchy (hamstring), Mertesacker (knee), Walcott (calf)

Burnley: Arfield (hamstring), Gudmundsson (hamstring), Marney (match fitness), Long (knee)

Last 5:
Arsenal: LWWDW

Burnley: LWWLW

Goals Scored Per Game:
Arsenal: 2.29

Burnley: 1.10

Goal Conceded Per Game:
Arsenal: 1.05

Burnley: 1.48

The Manager’s Perspective (courtesy Arsenal.com)

“We were very close to drawing and maybe even losing the game because they had one or two chances from set-pieces with Sam Vokes,” the manager said. “It was the game where we have maybe been the most lucky because Koscielny touched the ball with his hand for the goal.

“We had a good domination but they defended very well. When we came out of the game I thought, ‘They will not go down’ because of their spirit and organisation. They have strong points there and they accept that they will give you the ball. Not many teams do that and keep their focus.

“They say, ‘OK from the start of the game you have the ball but we might try to kill you at some stage’. You need a special spirit to do that. Once you have 10 years in the Premier League, you have the pressure to do a bit more.

“In the first year, everybody accepts you will do that and that makes them dangerous because they are good at it and they accept it all together. That makes them efficient.”

Match Officials:
Referee: Jonathan Moss (15M, 66Y, 2R)
Assistants: M Perry, A Halliday
Fourth official: A Taylor

Broadcast Information:
UK: Sky Sports: 14.15 GMT
US: NBC Sports Network 9:15AM

YAMA Predicts:
Arsenal 2 – 0 Burnley

Match Facts (courtesy FourFourTwo.com via opta):

• Arsenal have won six of their last seven meetings with Burnley in all competitions (D1), since a 0-2 loss in the League Cup in December 2008.
• Burnley have lost their last five visits to Arsenal in all competitions, since a 1-0 league win in September 1974.
• Alexis Sanchez has scored three and assisted another in his two previous games against Burnley at the Emirates Stadium (all competitions).
• The Gunners have scored exactly three goals in both of their previous Premier League home games against Burnley, with five of strikes coming after half-time.
• Olivier Giroud has scored in each of his last four Premier League games for the Gunners, his best run since April 2015 (six matches).
• In fact, Giroud has scored in each of his last nine starts for Arsenal in all competitions, scoring 11 goals in total.
• The Clarets have had 13 different goalscorers this season, a joint-league high with Manchester City, yet only three of those players have scored away goals (Ben Mee, Ashley Barnes and Sam Vokes all have one away goal each).
• Only one of Burnley’s 26 points this season has been secured away from Turf Moor. They have the worst away record in the Premier League this season (D1 L8).
• However, the Clarets are only seven points off their entire total from their last Premier League campaign in 2014/15 (33).
• Only Raheem Sterling (156) has had more touches in the opposition box this season than Alexis Sanchez (155). Burnley’s top player in this regard is Sam Vokes (57).