A few grey ones creeping in Mikel?
Morning all.
Another away fixture for Mikel Arteta and his players and it could be a tough one. Burnley are in a relegation battle so they need points. They’re seven points behind Luton who sit fourth from bottom. Any one of nine clubs could in theory be relegated in May as it’s that close in the bottom half of the table.
Mikel Arteta was asked if it’s more difficult to play a team in a relegation battle:
You just have to see the recent games when they went to Anfield, what they did, and how Liverpool beat them. And it’s going to be at home, which is going to be even more difficult. So it’ll be very tough.
Thankfully, we as a club are well away from the relegation drama but we still need points and as many as we can get.
Mikel Arteta said yesterday that Fabio Vieira is on the verge of returning and Thomas Partey might not be out for much longer either as he’s progressing really well. He didn’t elaborate too much but said he’s looking very good and he’s on the field already. Well, I’m not getting my hopes up just yet although it sounds promising. Oleksandr Zinchenko, Emile Smith Rowe, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Jorginho could be back in contention too.
For Burnley, Lyle Foster and Charlie Taylor are doubts. Jordan Beyer is ruled out as is Luca Koleosho and Nathan Redmond.
Arsenal’s Adrian Clarke on Burnley:
Vincent Kompany likes to deploy a 4-4-2, and even though Burnley are in trouble towards the foot of the table he still prefers an attacking style of play rather than being tactically pragmatic. Where possible he always wants his players to take positive actions. It has cost the Clarets a number of goals this season, but their high-profile head coach remains committed to playing out from the back, building through the thirds with short passing. When it comes off, Burnley have technically strong individuals who can produce quality inside the opposition half, but they have been consistently vulnerable to the press. Knowing this, I would expect Mikel Arteta to encourage us to pressurise the home players at every opportunity to force turnover situations. Set pieces have been a real issue for Burnley. They have conceded 12 so far this term, the second most in the division, and that includes two against the Gunners at Emirates Stadium.
William Saliba scored in the reverse fixture when sneaking in front of goalkeeper James Trafford unopposed, on a day where five of our 10 best chances according to xG were from set pieces.Burnley are not always easy to break down. Six top-flight sides have faced fewer shots in open play. Their pressing can be effective, and they also rely on the pace of Dara O’Shea when they become stretched. The Irish centre-back is the third-fastest player in the Premier League in 2023-24. Burnley’s danger man could be loan striker David Fofana. The lively frontman, who recently joined from Chelsea, is sharp on the ball and capable of creating chances for himself. In just three appearances, two from the bench, Fofana has scored twice and made an assist.
If Burnley play the style of football Adrian Clarke believes they will, there should be plenty of spaces for the Arsenal players to exploit. West Ham found that out as did Crystal Palace. But it does sound like Burnley have a number of dangerous players who could cause problems if we’re not focussed. Arsenal not being focussed under Mikel Arteta though is highly unlikely.
Set-pieces could work for us again today as it’s a Burnley weakness and an Arsenal strength. Declan Rice takes a wicked corner from our left, creating chances which William Saliba and Gabriel have scored from. Press hard and fast from the front because as Clarke says, Burnley don’t like it.
I’m pretty sure Vincent Kompany will have watched Arsenal’s destruction of West Ham, his players too no doubt and they’ll know that give this Arsenal team an inch, they’ll take a mile. Against Liverpool, they dug in hard and created plenty of goal scoring opportunities but they just couldn’t execute them. The week before that game, Burnley came back from being 2-0 down against Fulham at Turf Moor to draw 2-2. Fofana with both goals. This Burnley team clearly doesn’t give in easily.
Just in case you’ve forgotten, there’s a huge game in the WSL today as Arsenal’s women take on Manchester Utd at The Emirates Stadium. It’s a sell out and Arsenal need to win to keep the gap between Chelsea and Manchester City to just 3 points. Arsenal still have to play both clubs who sit above them in the table. Kickoff is at 12:30 and is live on Sky Sports.
Catch up in the comments.
Good morning Rico, every game is “big one” between now and the end of the season if we want to stay in the race for the top.
ESR and Zinchenko face pre-match fitness tests, I hope Arteta sticks with Kiwior at left back, maybe be Zinchenko could get a final ten minutes if we are not in danger of dropping points. For the moment I’d keep ESR wrapped in cotton wool.
Saka, Trossard and Martinelli up front. Rice, Havertz and Jorginho in midfield. Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel and Kiwior in defence. Personally I think this is a game in which Ramsdale should start.
Morning Cicero, absolutely agree.
As for the team and who’s fit, let’s wait and see. I’m just glad the injury news is positive at this stage of the season.
Morning All,
Burnley away was often very hard fought – but Arsenal would usually win.
Out of the 3 promoted teams Burnley looked the most likely to do well,they have been a big disappointment. I keep reading they are playing better but results don’t show that.
Their style should suit Arsenal. Game management will be important with the Porto first leg on Wednesday. As mentioned above all games are equally important now.
I wonder if we might see some surprises in the line up.
COYG
The good old Dyche days Limey.
3-0 up at halftime, more in the second half please ladies….
3 – 0 up and now United players are resorting to some spiteful challenges.
And the result in the Chelsea- Man City game last night went our way too.
Women well on top.
So much for me thinking there might be rotation – unchanged team.
More grappling from United than we used to see Saturday afternoons on World of Sport with the likes of Mick McManus and Steve Logan. 😉
Smart overcoat Jonas is wearing. Better than those snail suits Wenger preferred. 😉
Sloppy goal to give away. Total switch off by all concerned. Still 3 – 1 win, three points. Still in the race!
line up:
22 Raya
4 White
15 Kiwior
41 Rice
6 Gabriel
2 Saliba
8 Odegaard (c)
29 Havertz
19 Trossard
7 Saka
11 Martinelli
Come on Arsenal !
Eight unavailable with Walter’s and Nwaneri getting knocks. So SWEET is a sub!
Afternoon all, ESR only one back
Sweet? Never heard of him…
Afternoon Rico and all,
Must win and win well.
Arsenal one nil up. Odegaard left footer from outside the box. 👍
2-0. Saka pen.
Nice first half but a stupid yellow card picked up by Saka.
Is it only me or does Saka look very predictable when he takes a penalty, it seems to go for the right hand side a lot
Good start to the second half, nice goal by Saka, now leading 3 nil
Trossard makes it 4 – 0..
Saka seldom misses penalties Geoff that’s how predictable he is. 😉
Havertz adds the fifth. 🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔
Cicero he only just got it today, the keeper got his fingers to it
Havertz goal 5 nil
Nice win and a clean sheet
5 – 0 following last week’s 6 – 0 is a great boost for our race to the top. Eleven goals scored in two games, who needs a striker?
Nice!
Who’s going to Porto?
I went out for a walk at 2-0, returned at 5-0. Excellent result…
5-0, 2-1, 3-1, 6-0, 5-0…
I could get used to this…
Me too… And we still have a glut of injured players.
Watching the City / Chelsea game, I hate to admit that I agree with (holds nose) Gary Neville. He said earlier in the week that Manchester City are the most boring team in the league. They are very good at what they do but watching it is like watching a game of chess. There’s nothing in their game to get the juices flowing.
Yeah, I’m a bit worried that none of them will be back for Porto – although it could be a ploy by Arteta to keep the Ports guessing?
A three hour walk Rico? That’s a bit much for a puppy. 😉
The boredom has been lifted Sterling, of all people, has scored a breakaway goal. Chelsea go in at half-time one nil up.
Great result, the goal difference is transformed.
So pleased for Odegaard,he has still been playing well but the goals have been missing.
It’s great how the goals have been shared around.
The clean sheet is mighty impressive,best defence in the Premier League !
Ha ha Cicero, just the 45 mins. Most of which was stood still..
Always said the same about City, boring boring football and that was my concern about Arteta and his style of football.
Pleased for Havertz too Limey. Getting a goal will do him good.
I thought Trossard had a very good game, he worked hard had some good scoring chances and finally got the goal he deserved. Jesus will struggle to get back in the team if Trossard can maintain his level.
That’s 2 games in a row that Trossard has been very hungry for a goal, he is looking good to score against Porto.
We look so much better when we keep attacking the goals and stop this kick to kick, and having a nice lead gives Arteta more chances to bring on other players who are hungry for more goals.
Looking good for England in the third test against India, we only need to chase down 556 in our second innings to win and take a two one lead in the series.
Well maybe not so good England 2 wickets down for 18 runs. 😢
I think it’s safe to say we need a few days of torrential rain to save this one Cicero.
Morning to you and all.
New post up.
I really hope Jesus doesn’t just walk back into the team, nor Zinchenko – not in the PL anyway because I think we’ve been playing better football without both.