On paper Arsenal have a very easy task to beat Burnley at the Emirates tomorrow, considering that our opponents simply cannot get a result away from Turf Moor this season, but we have another good reason to expect a win in the form of Shkodran Mustafi.
Although I believe that Xhaka, Perez and Holding were pretty good buys in the summer, there is no doubt in my mind that Mustafi was was Wenger’s best bit of business this year. The German international immediately struck up a good understanding with Koscielny and our other defenders, and he has the amazing stat of never having lost a game in an Arsenal jersey after 14 League appearances.
But don’t just take my word for it, listen to what Hector Bellerin had to say about him yesterday: “He has been a great addition to the team,” Hector said. “He has adapted really well to the way we play. He likes to come out and look for people up front, and doesn’t kick long ball balls, he looks to play the ball on the floor and that’s really important to the way we play.
“Defensively he has grown since the first day, he is really confident around the other players, he will tell you what to do, he is a World Cup winner as well and a leader. The stats show he is a very positive defender and he is helping us get clean sheets.
“From the first day he was here we got on really well, on and off the pitch. From his time at Valencia, he speaks very good Spanish so that makes it easy – not just with me but other people in the back four.
“I feel very confident when I play with him because I know someone has got my back as well – not just the goalkeeper, you also know Shkodran will be there. I really like playing with him.”
Fulsome praise indeed from another defender that is also considered to be a future superstar in the making. So with Bellerin back from injury and Mustafi alongside him, I propose that have a much better chance than usual to keep a clean sheet and beat Burnley easily.
Agreed?
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Let’s not get ahead ourselves here…
Yes @NY_Gunner. Considering what happened to Liverpool today.
We have to learn some lessons and don’t take Burnley for granted..
Imagine Swansea conceding 4 at home and going to Ansfield to score 3 good goals and won.
We should win this one tomorrow as Sp* ds will lose points.
Actually Kieran Gibbs is also unbeaten in his last 14 games for Arsenal, although that run stretches back into last season.
OT – Did Flamini ever lose a game at the Emirates?
Comes what may, of course Arsenal will undoubtedly beat Burnley tomorrow Sunday at the Emirates Stadium by 4 goals to nil.
But haven said this, starting with our home PL match agaist Burnley tomorrow at the Ems, there is one big away FA Cup game for Arsenal to play against Southampton next Saturday. Then they’ll host Watford in a PL game at the Emirates and then travel to Stanford Bridge to engage Chelsea in a penultimate big game. By the time Arsenal put Chelsea game behind themselves, the Gunners would have played 4 games in 13 days.
Therefore, Le Prof has to do some Gunners rotation for these 4 games so as to avoided playing any fatigued Gunner in any of these 4 games which could lead to the Arsenal dropping precious PL point if care is not taken which should not happen to us again till the end of this season..
Bellerin, Coquelin and Gibbs who have just returned to training this week should all be rested to start this Burnley game but could all be started for the game on the bench. The same thing goes for Olivier Giroud who has recovered from his ancle strain last week to report for training yesterday at London Colney. I think he should also start this Burnley match from the bench as well in my own opinion.
The Gunners that started our last Swansea game last Sunday and beat them at the Liberty Stadium are more than capable to beat this Burnley side tomorrow if Le Prof will agree to restart them for Burnley again save Giroud. The FA Cup at ST Mary’s next Saturday could turnout to be a tough match for the Gunners to win which they MUST win. Therefore, this quartet of Giroud, Bellerin,, Coquelin and Gibbs should be allowed to have their healed injuries heal deeper. So that they will all be in optimum fitness level to start at Southampton. I hope Le Prof will agree with my thoughts.
My starts and bench for Burnley:
Starts:
Cech
Paulista Mustafi Koscielny Monreal
Xhaka Ramsey
Chamberlain Ozil Iwobi
Sanchez.
Bench:
Ospina Bellerin Holding Gibbs Coquelin Welbeck Giroud.
Can these my starts and bench be bettered? .
Not a bad looking line up but too many defensive players on the bench for me. I’d replace either Holding or Gibbs with Lucas. It’s time for Lucas to start getting a consistent run, he has earned it.
Arsenal 3 Burnley 0
Arsenal will beat burnley….no two ways about it