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Image: Confirmed Arsenal team for Burnley clash

The teams have now been released for the Premier League match between Arsenal and Burnley this evening.

We were already aware that Gabriel Martinelli, Thomas Partey and Nicolas Pepe were going to miss the matchup at the Emirates, while there was question marks over the possibility of David Luiz playing after his clash of heads with Raul Jimenez two weeks ago.

Mikel Arteta has a number of options to choose from at the back, with Pablo Mari and Calum Chambers proving their fitness of late, and he has opted to go with the below.

Is this the right team to end our woeful form of recent weeks?

Patrick

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343 Comments

      1. Haha I know right!! I also think we’ll be alright tonight… just hope I don’t faint and miss it all 😄

    2. I’m afraid I’m not as optimistic as you, Arteta has been filling me with a lot of doubt. Why in God’s name do willian and xhaka always somehow make it to the starting line up every game. Winning this will be down to how poor Burnley are tonight but I bet even them will fancy their chances against us. Who doesn’t anymore?

      1. For sure, Kstix… Chris Wood will channel his inner Messi 😂😂 You’re right though, every team fancy their chances against us…

        1. It’s sad that we’ve forgotten who we are. Somebody needs to play the tape of the invincible season to these overpayed players, let them see that this is Arsenal football club, not Stoke City FC. They don’t know the extent of the damage they’re doing to the club and fans. We should not even be around here this time of the season. I’m so frustrated Sue. I hope there’s light at the end of this tunnel.

          1. It is painful right now, Kstix, really painful… but keep your chin up, things will improve, starting tonight!! 😁 Keep your eye for the light 😉

      2. You forgot a certain player that can’t do a simple throw-in talk more of defend.
        As long as Holdin, Bellerin and Willian are play at the right side of the field, opponents would continue to have chances against us.

        1. This will continue I’m afraid, a win tonight will be papering over cracks but I hope it doesn’t, I hope the players wake up from their slumber and start to play for the badge.

          2. It’s Arteta ball. I finally understand his style. EVERY attack comes from the wings, and players instructed to endlessly cross the ball.

            How many times have we even TRIED to attack through the middle? Quick or direct passing and running the channels?

            We’ve influenced 1 match this year, against Utd. Otherwise we’ve been dominated or struggle to put our influence on the match.

            We need a convincing win, otherwise Arteta should be in danger. Arteta looks out of ideas

    4. Laca as a 10 i know we’ll win though. Auba loves scoring against the I hope he bangs a hatrick👌👌

  2. Same old faces, very predictable, i hope the football isnt. Experienced players aren’t being treated the same as the younger ones, they get away with murder week in week out.

  3. Willian and Xhaka again. And Laca playing as a 10. Even if we win, it will be down to how ridiculously poor Burnley is than how well we play. Arteta never really learns from his mistakes. I see that now. He’s making it harder to keep backing him like I’ve always done.

    1. Did you see the training clips, Kstix? They all had blinders 😱 They may finally transfer it onto the Emirates pitch this evening!! Stranger things have happened…😂

      1. That’s the thing Sue, somehow they play really well to deceive the manager into selecting them in training, even willian plays like Messi in training but becomes a sanogo on actual match days. Seems Arteta only watches the training clips and not the actual match clips for him to keep starting these guys like he continues to do. One of two things will happen today Sue, more pressure on Arteta to get sacked or papering over cracks till Southampton rip out those tapes on Wednesday.

        1. I must admit, Kstix, if for some bizarre reason we don’t win, then it really won’t be looking good for MA….

    2. Two Thoughts.

      If we are thought to be able to control possession in this one, maybe Xhaka and Ceballos will be useful, maybe.

      Perhaps we are planning to play a 4-4-1-1 ???

    3. Honestly, i thought I’m the only one that feels like this each time I see Xhaka that specializes in sideways passes and Willian that slows down attacks. I’m sorry but I’m beginning to give up on Arteta.

  6. If we can’t beat Burnley then we are doomed.
    Not a bad selection though I will swap Xhaka for M-Niles.

    Let’s see how things unfold in a few hours time.

  9. Aubameyang and Lacazette have played together so many times, so I expect them to be as good as Kane-Son duo in this match

  12. Willian and Xhaka again, Balogun not even on the bench. If we don’t win or score tonight you really have to question Artetas thinking.

  13. It seems Arteta is too strict with youngsters and others. Yet keep pampering the likes of Willian, no matter how worse they perform

  15. That awkward moment when you realise that Arsenal has made exactly the same points as Liverpool on the road.

  16. Arteta should tell Holding to not run back when an attacker is coming with the ball. That’s inviting as he did with Son last week.

    1. You would have blamed him if he went in and missed, which would have 100% happened with Son running fast at him.

      1. You mean you prefer the way our defenders keeps running back all the time? Whatever happens to been in the face of opposition and disrupting attacks.

        1. You are assuming two things .
          1. That Holding actually had the safe option of trying to directly approach Son
          2.That Son would have continued in the same direction regardless of holding’s actions.

          This is why you are wrong. If Holding had gone straight to Son, he’d have left the right side of the box exposed to Son . Gabriel never would have had a fighting chance, Bellerin never would have made it back into position so it would have been a one on one.

          Son never really made a run into any person’s space. He was halfway between Holding,Bellerin and Partey. I didn’t expect the strike and I doubt any of the defenders did . It was just an amazing goal.

          Finally , on a more general footing, Football is a team sport. Everytime a player steps out to press on his own, he’s likely to collapse the entire formation. As a defender, it’s advisable to jockey ,(what you call running back) untill all your teammates are back in position,

  18. I SUPPORT MA in all he does. But I will suggest that in once again starting Xhaka, Bellerin and Willian, if it goes worng tonight he is inviting enormous pressure . When you keep playing players who let you down while not playing hungry youngsters, then you put yourself under pressure.

    I DO NOT AGREE WITH HIS SELECTION BUT WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT HIM.

    2. I still support him Jon but like you , a similar lacklustre performance tonight from the same faces will undoubtedly put enormous pressure on Arteta.

      He needs to show a bit of bravery

    3. me too Jon but it is getting rather tiring.

      I almost get the sense that Arteta thinks before every game “this will be the game it all comes together with Willian, etc”. But it doesn’t. Groundhog Day over and over…

      I know we are desperate for points but this would have been a good day to try something a bit different. C’est la vie…

      Regardless = come on Gunners and Willian score three!

    4. I think there might be some clause in Willian’s contract that he starts every week end unless injured or Suspended

    5. How long will this continue sir,I want him to succeed too but,he it seems he is not learning a thing

  19. Here we go again with the usual suspects. Gabriel Tierney and Elneny really deserve to start, the rest I’m not really sure.

  21. Willian,Xhaka and Bellerin straight back in to the Premier League starting line-up.Still no place for AMN.Sticking with a back-four with three up front when without Partey there is no one to link play.Balogan looks a far better player to make any form of impact from the bench yet Neketiah continues to be the main attacking option in that respect…
    Arteta doesn’t seem to have any more tactical vision than either Llungberg or Emery before him…and look what happened to them!!

  22. There’s three in the starting eleven that should consider themselves lucky to be there, but maybe their immediate replacements on the bench might inspire them into actually performing like Arsenal players.

  23. Its the same old failures…Was at least expecting some real change. At least get AMN ahead of Xhaka! Whats Willian still doing in there?

  25. I have a question. Except for the foul throws, how does one justify the notion that Bellerin is lucky to start but Tierney is justified? The former has actually been more outstanding this season. Note, this is not to say that Tierney is poor, but I simply don’t understand the criticism.

    I can understand for example Willian’s criticism . He’s been very underwhelming compared to all his compatriots . But Bellerin has been our most productive fullback this season. Why do people have issues with him?

    1. Fans are biased. They forgot Bellerin’s dribble was one of the main reasons we won FA Cup last season and he’s not doing too bad in this season

      1. You are thinking too far back. Even this season, he’s been creating a goal scoring chance or two per game . I find it odd when anyone says Tierney has better deliveries. Tierney will hit a mean looking cross that will miss everyone in the box and everyone will praise him. Bellerin will create a clear cut chance and no one wants to remember it.

        2. I totally agree with you. I don’t know what Bellerin did to them. This team is bad, but i would still play Bellerin over Cedric. Talk about areas that needed better option that’s resting on the bench, not Bellerins. What the hell is AMN doing on the bench and Xhaka starts

    3. Think most people take issues with his defensive nous. While he was at fault for some goals we conceded, he doesnt get enough protection from the winger or the midfielder on his side, and gets blocked or dispossesed and the opponents go for counter.

      1. But Tierney gets his fair share of defensive turn outs too. The criticism just doesn’t follow as much.

        1. New boy hype. Think our left side is better coordinated than our right side, and the foul throws just present a scapegoat. For me personally, even Tierney and Saka have underperformed at times, especially when they get space and time to pass and push out a less than desirable final ball.

          1. When it comes to throw ins , both our fullbacks struggle. One just can’t throw it right, the other needs 3 minutes to decide who he’ll be throwing the ball to.

  29. Yawn … same same … if they all turn up … except xhaka as he is irrelevant to team performance .. should be enough for a two goal victory … if not it could be another frustrating evening

  30. it is a fine tram but not balanced in midle, thankfully we have a DM in Elneny, should be another one as El’ was paired with Partey.

    Nor xhaka and even less so Saka can be more defensive than Niles nor as B2B as Willock could be….

    To keep Willian on obliges him to play Auba as LW and Saka behind him.

    That willian choice causes auba there instead as on RW he is better at and Saka to play in his best position.

    Many midfield are better at midfield he is asked to play at.

    Thus is keep happening over and over.

    Coach is imposing this non sense to players who trying to cope and do thier best…

    1. What? Am I the only one not making sense of this?

      Auba playing LW with Saka behind him.
      assuming LW=Left wing , it would mean Saka is playing left back? How about Tierney?

      Could you atleast present a coherent critiscisim?

      Playing Willian forces Auba left rather than right where he’s better? You’ve seen him play as a right winger? He’s good there?

  31. Chapter 12

    In which Mikel gets a breather, Aubameyang find his scoring boots again and things start to look up.

    1. Playing out at the back is getting quite pathetic really as we dont look comfortable. Also holding, xhaka aren’t really top draw

  35. So .. so far no one has shown up … lack of quality and energy is obvious … no midfield against a team that can’t score … whimpish attack …

  37. Almost every attack coming from the wings, and currently on pace for 172 crosses this game. Oh dear, will Arteta ever learn?

    We need to be patient with Arteta. We don’t need a plan B, just give Arteta time for his plan A of endless crosses to come to fruition.

    FFS starting to think Emeryball more enjoyable that Artetacrosses football.

  38. One would have expected Arteta to change things a bit but he is serving us the same s””t that got us 4 points out of 18.

  40. Either arteta is so clueless that players are lost as to what to do or players are so useless they can’t execute his ideas … either way tinkering won’t solve the death spiral the club is now in

  41. Another cross? Also whenever we have the ball, the free players are almost always near the wings, and then they are closed down. Seems like we are setup to cross from the start and all the other things that we see in those training clips are just myths.

  42. Need to start the cull NOW .. xhaka bellerin willian should not be anywhere close to first team … ever … elneny laca are ok for bench … we need at least 5 quality players to have a decent first 11

  43. Leno slows everything to a sails pace, it’s bad enough the rubbish we are playing but he has a big hand in it too. Get it up the pitch quickly for goodness sake

  46. This falls on Arteta. They are cleary being instructed for attacks to ALWAYS come from the wings, and EVERYTHING created is from a cross.

    FFS, enough of Arteta ball, PLAY TO PLAYERS STRENGTHS for a change.

    1. There is just a basic lack of quality across the park which combined with a clueless novice manager produces the worst football I can remember in the more than 4 decades I’ve been a supporter … not even energy and effort … the rot runs deep … devastatingly bad right now

    2. What player strength? Do we have a cam? the present strength of this team is creating something from the wing, Lacca has squandered 2 beautiful chances already, even AUBA couldn’t play a simple pass to Saka, am sure MA didn’t ask lacca to do so did he?

  47. Farve got the boot for getting 4 out of the maximum 15 playing attractive football but Arteta deserves 3 year with his boring football.

  49. Why does arteta insist on his CMs playing as fullbacks? There is no one occupying central positions to transfer the play foward. We could buy Messi and Cr7 and still never score a goal, not with this clown as manager.

    1. Arteta has 45 minutes to save his job. But it’s not just the result it’s the performance, lacazette and aubameyang are awful atm but wat can we do we just are not a top team anymore we have become a cup team hoping to get a good draw
      Such a shame as I th8we would win this at a canter

    2. What CM are you talking about?, this formation uses CM as DM and it’s obvious the plan is to create something from the wing not the middle, fine formations and tactics but our players are too rigid to implement it, shame

  50. Arsenal are confident that they have the right man, says Venkatesham… If that’s true we are in serious trouble, I don’t see this team winning many games.. depressing!

  53. Please let the 2nd half be better!
    Take something special to beat Nick Pope… and right now I’m not sure if we have it

    2. I would like to see Willian replaced by ESR at restart. Saka to right wing, Auba to left, Laca upfront and ESR behind Laca.

  54. when was the last time arsenal scored before half time?
    They say we don’t create enough chances but in this match we have enough to win this game already, bar we were not clinical enough.
    And what’s with Tieerney? Did he only knows across? Can’t he make simple pass? Elnely should be aware of Bellerin joining attack and stay to cover for him just as Xhaka is doing for KT.
    Probably we can win today

  56. If it was Giroud instead of Chris Wood, I bet we would’ve conceded. Apart from that incident, the Gunners seem to have understand Arteta’s 4-2-3-1 tactic

    It’s more similar to the 4-2-3-1 tactic Arteta used when Ozil was still playing before the lockdown last season. I just wished Arteta started a natural CAM like Ceballos instead of Lacazette, but I think Arteta wants to take advantage from Aubameyang-Lacazette’s bromance

    We’ve also managed to produce a lot of crosses and corners. We could’ve scored if we have towering target man upfront, at least in the second half

    1. When we had Giroud everyone wanted a more agile striker…now we have Auba and you want Giroud. Auba is a better striker than Giroud, Arteta just doesn’t have a clue what he is doing.

    2. Don’t think of it as a rigid formation. Consider it a 4-4-1-1 .Laca is only a midfielder for some parts of the game. I think we’re better suited with him there than Ceba. We don’t need another CM to recycle posession. We have ELneny and Xhaka for that. We need someone to turn and move the ball forward which Laca is doing well. As a striker, he’s more likely to risk turning than a CM so it helps. Also, he’s offering good support on the second ball.

  57. You want to know the funny thing? We have very similar stats to Burnley. Lacazettr is our highest goal scorer in the league on just 3 goals, wood has 2. Very similar right? Arsenal FC is presently doing a Burnley. Thought I’d never see that in my lifetime

  60. Just seen the same issues on the right sude on the pitch as in previous games. What does Willian and Bellerin have to do to get dropped.
    Play AMN and Nelson for crying out loud!
    Bellerin is not creative nor defensive, AMN is quicker and more decisive. Bellerein thought he do do what Walcott could because he was faster. In your dreams Bellerin
    Nelson is hungrier and fitter than Willian. The senior pros are playing you Arteta, not good enough for Arsenal. Play the best regardless on seniority. They will get you sacked!

  61. We miss someone who attacks from midfield and drives at a defence playing 1-2s off our attackers like Jack Wiltshire in the day. We are predictable, play in crosses when we don’t have any forwards who are dominant in the air. The problem is that I could have rep eated this comment for virtually the last 10 games…

  62. Either Elneny or Xhaka need to be replaced by (can’t believe I’m saying this )Ceballos he is the only one on that bench who can maybe open Burnley up through the middle ,because the wingers are being wasted with the constant crosses they are delivering.
    I’m watching a stream with Richard keys and Andy gray and they can’t it see why we are playing the balls in from the wings .

  65. If Arsenal stick with Arteta we have every chance of getting relegated. We are shite beyond recognition currently. Arteta out!

    1. Dear oh dear!!

      Xhaka you muppet and all these chance we just created will result in us not getting 3points at home again.

    2. He is worse than that. Arsenal were growing in confidence and pressurising. Now there is pressure of the wrong sort

  77. Anyone else think Xhaka has just saved Arteta’s job by getting sent off. Ready made excuse for a loss!

  78. What is the surprise … the guy is a Neanderthal with no football skills … the only thing worse is the man who puts him in the team week in week out … time for both to go

  79. Not looking good Mikel… you need to pull a rabbit out if the hat here

    Dortmund just sacked their manager today and there 5points off top… though they did get beat 5-1 by Mavrapinas and co at Stuttgart!

  80. The worst Arsenal team I have ever seen. I am 48 and have seen a fair few bad ones. We are an absolute joke!

  81. Seems the fans have been proven right.

    Xhaka is consistently useless and I can’t believe Arteta reintegrated him into the team when it was the perfect opportunity to get rid a massive liability for years.

  82. That’s the happiest I have ever been after our player received a red card.

    Here is a bold prediction. We are winning the next few games. You saw it here first.

  83. Xhaka is useless and so is this Arsenal team under Arteta! How much longer can this carry on for 🙄 I fear a relegation scrap!

  84. Our decline started after the 1st muppet bought and continually played xhaka. Then the gutless emery did try to keep him out but chickened out now our clueless manager makes him the first name on the team sheet. i really wonder what xhaka has on these managers?
    I woke to watch this crap although i knew when i saw him starting that i shouldnt have bothered.

    2. Thing is Rory this might cost Arteta his job ,and he’s stood by Xhaka and he does this to him and the team when only a win would do tonight
      Fcking clown if we don’t get 3 points

      1. Yeah I get what your saying dan, but I mean even as a neutral, big derby games / rival games just dont have the same magic they used to have, fouls becoming much more frequent and very punishable, lot more low scoring games, I just feel football has lost its greatness compared to like 10-20 years ago, slowly falling out of love with it unfortunately 😔

    1. You just can make some fans up … he was utterly useless before he went off and we have looked better with 10 men

  92. Hopefully we won’t celebrate last game of the season because we avoid relegation on last day of the season

  95. I’m not sure if MA is simply thick skinned and stubborn or if he really does believe that he has to continue with his setup because he knows what’s best for the future? At this rate though we might be mid table in the Championship next season.🤨

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