Emirates Stadium – August 17, 2019
Last time out Arsenal won their last game away to Newcastle 1-0, a rare clean sheet on the road after only recording one all of last season. It was a makeshift team with a few first-teamers missing. Youth was also given a chance and there were good performances from Willock, Guendouzi and Nelson. It was the first time since 1998 the Gunners fielded two English teenagers. Aubameyang was the difference again with the forward grabbing the goal.
Manager Unai Emery:
“ I want to win, I want to score and I want to do clean sheets. Today we won and did that”
Burnley won their opener against Southampton 3-0, with forward Ashley Barnes in great form grabbing a brace. Both goals were assisted by new signing Erik Pieters, to give the hosts their biggest opening day win since 1966.
Manager Sean Dyche
“It’s a nice start for us. The mentality and energy, the will and desire was all there. The lads have come in really bright this season.
Team News
Arsenal are still without Bellerin, Holding, Tierney and Mavropanos through injury. Manager Emery has confirmed that both Ozil and Kolasinac are both 100% mentally ready to return after security incidents. New signings Pepe, Luiz and Cebellos will be pushing for more playing time. Xhaka may be a doubt after the Swiss midfielder suffered bruising on his back and leg.
Burnley are still missing Brady and Defour through injury but could see Charlie Taylor return to the squad more than likely starting from the bench. Danny Drinkwater is not ready just yet after a long time without playing but he is believed to be getting playing time soon with the reserves.
Head to Head Stats
• At the Emirates, Arsenal have won all seven games against Burnley, scoring 21 goals and conceding just four; the only team the Gunners have faced more often at home since 2006-07 and won each game against is Stoke City (10 wins in 10 games).
• Burnley have not won opening back to back games in the top division since 1973/74 season.
• The last time Burnley won away to Arsenal in the league was back in September 1974.
• Sean Dyche has lost all of his 8 games against the Gunners.
• Aubameyang has scored a brace in all three league matches against Burnley.
• Arsenal have won their last 10 matches against Burnley which stretches back to March 2010.
Danger Men
Aubameyang for Arsenal, winning the golden boot last year in his first full season. He will always be a massive threat for the Gunners. He looked very sharp in pre-season and carried that into the game last week grabbing the winner against Newcastle.
Ashley Barnes netted 12 goals in the league last season and is off to a flyer with a brace against Southampton.
Prediction
I think Arsenal will win this game and comfortably as long as they get off to a quick start. The longer the game goes on without a goal and if the fans get nervous it could be an uneasy finish for the Arsenal. The Gunners will need to be quicker knocking the ball around then when then played last week at Newcastle, but we know that they are a different animal at the Emirates finishing third last season in the home table behind Man City and Liverpool respectively. It is important who ever starts at Centre Back to keep a close eye on Barnes, and they will need to be dominant in the air with deliveries into the box.
I look forward to seeing young Willock playing again – I think he did enough in the last game to warrant another start: he’s young, fresh and plays without fear – just what the Arsenal faithful have been waiting for. I think this game will be won in the middle of the park, Guendouzi will need to break play up and move the ball forward or out wide quickly.
This is a tough game for Burnley and a fixture that has not been kind to them in the past. If they are to get anything out of the game they will need to be organised, press the Arsenal defence into making a mistakes, Be accurate with set pieces and deliveries into the box they may grab something.
I fancy Aubameyang to add more goals to his Tally as he searches for another Golden Boot.
Final Score – Arsenal 4-1 Burnley
Hello, all! I am a 34 year old family man. I’m an Arsenal fan living in London with a passion for Arsenal, a love of the game and a need to write. I’m happy writing factual accounts with evidence to back up my own personal analysis, as well as writing off-the-cuff with opinion-based pieces.
No comments yet.