It is always interesting to see what the opposition media (including fan blogs) has to say, and how confident they are before they face Arsenal, especially when it is at the Emirates.
Lancs live is calling the Clarets striker Ashley Barnes the most lethal in the Premier League, using the stats for 2019. They point out that he has more goals than Mo Salah and is level on goals with Raheem Sterling. Their headline, in particular, is a beauty “Striker is the most lethal in the league – and Burnley are coming for Arsenal” To say that Lancs Live are confident is an understatement.
.
The Lancashire Telegraph concentrate on more mundane stuff like team news and have avoided any sensational headlines that Lancashire is going with.
You would be forgiven for thinking that Burnely is not facing Arsenal this weekend if you visit Up The Clarets, the unofficial Burnley supporters website. They barely mention the game. In fact, they have covered manager Sean Dyche pre-match press conference and that is about it.
Burnley Express ran a very interesting article and pointed out something I simply did not know. Apparently, Sean Dyche has faced 27 different clubs since Burnley won promotion back in 2014 and when they returned after relegation in 2016 and he has won at least a point off every one of those teams apart from one, Arsenal.
Quite a mixed bag really, I liked how Lancs live bigged up Ashley Barnes and the Burnley Express Sean Dyche piece about him doing a clean sweep was an education. I was a little surprised at the lack of pre-match coverage from Up the Clarets and Lancashire Telegraph but each to their own.
Still, it was an interesting exercise.
WATCH ARSENAL’S TOP FIVE GOALS AGAINST BURNLEY
One of Emery’s preferred player Xhaka a doubt for Saturday.
I believe Injuries will be taken with extra precaution this season.
So my predicted line up will be.
Mkhitaryan… Aubameyang… Pépé
Ceballos… Guendouzi… Willock
Monreal… Sokratis… Luiz… A.M Niles
….Leno….
Subs –
Lacazette
Torreira
Nelson
Martinelli
Chambers
Xhaka
E. Martinez
This team should get 3 points for us from Burnley at home.
I’d place a wager that xhaka will pass the fitness test for tomorrow’s game and will be in the starting XI
Need to see torreira playing … The difference to chelski yday as soon as kante was back was dramatic and torreira needs to play that same role Williams CL is out of his depth still in EPL … And miki cannot be a starter so either ozil or lacazette
Barnes is a strong striker, but he is slow
I believe he wouldn’t be a problem though. Because Arsenal would most likely play with 4-2-3-1, which would make us dominate the midfield
If Willock starts again, I expect another good teamwork from Maitland-Niles and him
Auba will push wide instead of Mykitarian ,our front line may be
Auba. Lacca. Pepe.
Burnley media is saying that we have their number and a tendency of scoring a late goal
No reason to field a woeful Mkhi, hopefully not see him again. He’s had plenty of chances in preseason and at Newcastle and has shown nothing.
We have a top attacking trio, why not unleash them at home? Ceballos, Guendouzi, and Torreira in midfield, Chambers paired with Luiz, and FB’s pick themselves.
Up The Clarets will most likely publish its match preview on Friday, that would be their normal timing.
I don’t want to play Xhaka (I’d prefer Ceballos, Torreira, Guendozi), but at least Xhaka is a good passer. Xhaka is one of our best passers.
Mkhitaryan needs to be benched by someone ie Ceballos, Nelson, Ozil, Rowe.
Maybe
…………Leno
Niles…Chamb..Sok…Monreal
Torreira..Ceballos..Xhaka/Guend
Pepe… Lacazette…Aubameyang
Or
………..Leno
Niles..Chamb..Sok..Monreal
…Torreira….Ceballos
Pepe…….Ozil….Aubameyang
………Lacazette
Xhaka a good passer when he complete his passes. When he doesn’t they lead to bad giveaways. He’s no more guilty than a lot of our other players with this though, and sometimes gets more abuse than warranted tho.
I think Emery will use the formation that he wants to use in the game against Liverpool which is up next after Burnley:
—————-Leno—–
—–Chambers—Luiz—Sokratis
M-Niles———————-Kolasinic
——-Guendouzi—-Torreira
Pepe—–Lacazette—–Aubameyang
Midfield of Cabellos, Luis and Torreira? Torreira anchors the defense as DM in front. Ceballos anduis the passers/take the ball forward.
I think we’ll be alright if we don’t look ahead to Tots/Liverpoop. We’ll need to be constantly moving. If we allow Burnley to turn the Emirates into a bog it’ll be difficult.