Burnley Vs Arsenal
Saturday 11th April: 17:30BST
Turf Moor


Interesting times

Things have turned for the better for Arsenal lately. From worrying over losing the 4th spot few months back, to holding down the 2nd spot in the league has turned the fans into quite a happy bunch. Which is quite strange for Arsenal. Fans have very little to moan about in terms of performance and results. A trophy could be a possibility as well for the 2nd year running while the league performance has improved quite a lot from what it used to be before.

But the race isn't over yet. Arsenal travel to Burnley who are notoriuosly bullish at home. They beat the champions, Manchester city two weeks ago while they have gained most of their overall points from their home matches in the league. Which says it all about them. They are a difficult team to play and Arsenal will have to be at their best to get 3 points. We are better than them in quality without a doubt, but so were City and that didn't count for anything. We have to be careful. We can't get frustrated when things doesn't go our way and we can't falter at any point.

The good news is that most of our injured players are back. Wilshere, Arteta and Debuchy returned alongside Diaby this week. Whether they will play any part is yet to see but it's always good to see few more quality players back in the times when we really need them. Competition will be tougher than ever and every player is in danger of losing their spot if they fail to perform.

Team News

As mentioned, Diaby, Arteta, Wilshere and Debuchy are back for Arsenal. Oxlade remains the absentee. Koscielny might be back after this match.

Sean Dyche has confirmed that the experienced trio of Ross Wallace, Steven Reid and Matt Taylor will all come back into contention this weekend.

Probable Arsenal Team

---------------------------Ospina------------------------------------
Bellerin-----------Gabriel----------Mertesacker------------Monreal
------------------Ramsey---------Coquelin--------------------------
Cazorla----------------------Ozil----------------------------Sanchez
-------------------------Giroud----------------------------------------

Probable Burnley Team

---------------------------Heaton-----------------------------------
Trippier------------Duff----------Shackel----------------Mee
Boyd-------------Arfield---------Jones-------------------Barnes
----------------Vokes----------------Ings--------------------------


Match facts(FourFourTwo)

• Burnley have let in 10 goals in their last four matches against Arsenal in all competitions (average of 2.5 per game).
  
• Arsenal have won each of their last seven Premier League games, the best current run in the division. No side has won eight in a row at any point this season.
  
• Arsenal have exactly the same record after 31 games as they did last season (W19 D6 L6).
  
• Santi Cazorla should make his 100th Premier League appearance in this game, while Aaron Ramsey could clock up 150.
  
• There have been fewer goals in the final 15 minutes at Turf Moor this season (3) than any other Premier League ground.
  
• Danny Ings has scored (9) or assisted (4) half of Burnley's 26 goals this season.
  
• Olivier Giroud has scored 10 goals in his last 10 matches for Arsenal in all competitions.
  
• Giroud is the first player to score in six consecutive PL appearances for Arsenal since Emmanuel Adebayor in 2008.
  
• No side have scored more set piece goals than Arsenal in the Premier League this term (20).
  
• Mesut Ozil has scored or assisted seven goals in his last eight PL games (three goals, four assists).

Final Say

Won't mind a 1-0 win imo

Great read RG!

Interesting stats, mostly positive, going into the game. City lost - yes, but they've generally been piss poor since we beat them. We are more or an upward curve and have overtaken Liverpool in the form table since they tripped up the last couple of weeks.

In the last six games, we have 18 points and are on top of the form table, in fact. Next is United, with 5 consecutive wins since their loss to Swansea on 21.02. followed by Chelsea with 4 wins and 2 draws (Soton, Burnley). City are 9th.

Burnley themselves are 16th, with 1 win and 2 draws in the last 6. We should be sweeping the pitch with them, but it is an away game and Burnely are in the relegation battle in 18th place, tied on points with QPR and 2 points behind Hull. Indubitably, a win would be a very huge 3 points for them to avoid the drop. Take that into perspective and you can be sure that they'd give us as stern a test as any.

Good work RG.

I know we wont have it easy against relegation opponents. Burnley are dangerous and can cause a lot of trouble if we dont take our chances.

I hope we dont get complacent.

Trust me CL Gunner, we are Arsenal. We will find a way.

Allow me to be the antithesis and predict a rout

Nah. Anything but that. They have not conceded more than 2 at home in like months

Arsenal team to play Burnley: Ospina, Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Coquelin, Cazorla, Ramsey, Ozil, Alexis, Giroud

Burnley: Heaton; Trippier, Duff, Shackell (c), Mee; Boyd, Arfield, Jones, Barnes; Vokes, Ings

Subs: Gilks, Keane, Ward, Ulvestad, Jutkiewicz, Taylor, Kightly

Arsenal: Ospina, Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Coquelin, Cazorla, Ramsey, Ozil, Alexis, Giroud

Subs: Szczesny, Gibbs, Chambers, Flamini, Rosicky, Walcott, Welbeck

No Gabriel.

Szcz & Kos fit. Ramsey on wing again? LOLWUT.

Understandably, none of Diaby/Wilshere/Arteta in the squad.

Wonder if we will see Walcott ever again

Unless he does more than taking 9 touches in 75', I doubt it.

First time in over a decade, we have won 8 on the trot. Phew.

Precious 3 points. Great result despite an awful performance

Coquelin probably MOTM

I don't think it was an awful performance man.. We played decent tbh.. Credit to Burnley for a great performance!

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CCVMCZjWMAEH2W2.jpg

Iirc, his interception lead to our goal

Francis Coquelin, who won man of the match, made more interceptions (11) than any player in any Premier League match this season.

Exactly the type of player you needed.

Funny when the transfer threads start again and you actually feel Arsenal don't need anyone.

We'll find a way to need someone by July.

Not making a post-match thread (you might have guessed by now). Crap game. Can't be arsed.

Burnley are a Championship team. They compensate for a lack of quality with hard work, but hard work couldn't cover an ineffectual playing style. It's been a few years now since we were vulnerable to long/direct passes.

I thought we were too passive in the game after we scored. Too many backwards and sideways passes, not enough accurate forward passes to bypass what was a simple press. Ramsey on the right side doesn't seem too effective. Wasn't until the last ten minutes that we actually sustained some pressure on their penalty area.

Reading will present a similar challenge in next week's cup semi-final.

Chelsea next in the league in two weeks. QPR beat them tomorrow, and we beat them at home, things could get interesting. Unlikely as it is.

Good 3 points, now lets take care of FA cup.

Coquelin.