Sean Dyche may have been saying nice things about Arsene Wenger and the Frenchman´s achievements at Arsenal in the build up to the game this week, but that does not meant that the Burnley boss will be planning anything other than pain for our long serving manager.
They may be struggling to avoid the drop but after a slow start to the season, Burnley have improved a lot (a bit like Arsenal I suppose), and they have proved themselves against the big teams in the Premier League as well. So how do Arsenal avoid joining the likes of Chelsea, Man City, Man United and the spuds in dropping points to the Clarets?
Well apart from the obvious tactic of taking them seriously and being on our toes from the start, Arsenal do have the players and the tactics that should prove too much for the visitors. Burnley´s success against the big clubs has been based on hard work and using a 4-4-2 formation to get in their face and pressurise the ball right from the front.
They are also very strong and organised in defence, so Arsenal may need to be patient while using our passing ability to keep a high tempo and keep the ball, drawing their sting and the energy from their legs at the same time. We must use width to stretch their defence as a compact game would play right into their hands. Perhaps this would be a good game to use the more attacking Gibbs instead of Monreal at left back.
Giroud will have his hands full against the excellent Shackell and Duff in the centre of their defence but if the big man can keep them busy it will allow the pace, power and silky skills of players like Alexis, Ozil, Cazorla, Ramsey and Welbeck to open them up.
It will be a tough game, especially if we do not get an early goal, but if we approach it right and play to our own strengths, Arsenal should become the first BPL team this season to win eight in a row.
We just gotta put in a serious 90+ min. shift and the 3 points are ours…
yes. Relegation zoned teams can turn into a whole different animal. We have to remember that the entire match.
Affirmative!
Very impressed with/by our beloved Arsenal lately as are all i am sure. Keep up the professionalism and hunger and i think we are all right… that said these are the type games that can kick you in ass bringing you back down to earth with banging headache.
I seen an article naming the five most important Arsenal players to turning our fortunes round. I didnt click on it as i believe it has been a whole team effort – For a good spell we didnt look a team/cohesive.
Ill now name who i think top five would get accredited if up to me as i doubt Arsenal players come onto these kind of forums.
In no particular order except the first place.
No1 – Boss AKA Koscielny… we missed this guy so badly, gave too many cheap goals untill he came back in and got his match up along with Pers performances too. Crucial partnership.
No2 – Cazorla… giving Cazorla responsibility of not only a cm but an anchoring one for when Ramsey Wilshere out was a beautiful surprise, we knew he had the ball playing skills but himself rolling up sleeves at manc and others was just brilliant.
No3 – Giroud… His best spell since arriving, his link up play and his general warrior attitude coming out to play.
No4 – Ozil… hes beginning to set tempos and moving pieces into play, generally at least three different Arsenal players do get excellent opportunities to make the scoresheet thanks to our big name German.
Last one is difficult as there is three more id like to name but i will go with….
No5 – Monreal – Nothing short of word class, albeit in a three month period must be said. Breathe of fresh air witnessing an Arsenal fullback play with such professionalism.
Honorable mention must go to Bellerin Sanchez Ospina. Bellerin just lost out to Monreal for me. Sanchez was best in beginning half season and boy did we need him, also his efforts besides goals still deserves much credit for recent Arsenal displays. Ospina… if we had him from the start we could arguably be leading title race.
@YingYang….I am shocked! No mention of the COQ!!
I was waiting for someone to mention. Thought it might start people off making there own top five list, it is difficult and obviously Coq is a big part of our uprising but someone or plural has to miss out.
Monreal must start a head of gibs
With City and United playing each other and hopefully drawing, these 3 points are vital to ensure 2nd spot and perhaps put added pressure on Chelsea. Our team is in form and spirits are high, I really don’t think we will lose this but at the same time we cannot let complacency slip in. Full tilt till the final whistle
yeah a win will guarantee us some breathing room from either Man City, Man U, or both. Must must leave their stadium with 3 points.
Really i have to commend Wenger for taking the bold step and squashing rumours of our players being on the market (started mostly by the media)…..i dn’t like the rumour of Liverpool snooping arnd our property (doesn’t matter if Jenkinson is on Loan or walcott’s looking outta touch at the moment), he should squash this as well………. Lately (if i’m right), he (wenger) has been getting his acts right…..but, he must keep up the consistency……if he keeps doing this, as well as listening to reason, he won’t have to be blamed and criticized for every bad thing going on at Arsenal…….i guess the pressure was worth it tho, cuz a “wind of change” is blowing at the emirates….. ONWARD ARSENAL…. ONWARD forever
Pass to Sanchez.
Nuff Said
Arsenal needs to focus on giving respect to burnley and then rip it away from them in the arsenal’s very own 8 minute blitz but should not rely on it cause wenger may now become over confident with the incoming players but are not worth first team squad and it looks like some of them will start at burnley. Debuchy is the best bet and other than that wilshere,Diaby,arteta will have to bide thier time in arsenal B cause a couple of u21 appearances does not make them ready for starting 11 or even subs bench
CANNOT take any game lightly. Burnley are fighting for their EPL lives and we need to match their intensity. Sanchez, Giroud, Ozil, and Santi should all be playing. I would also start Welbeck to inject some pace and power on the wing.