It`s Arsenal at the Emirates this Saturday and after nine gruelling games the Clarets are still looking for their first win of the season. That elusive first win looks unlikely to come against the 5th placed Gunners although stranger things have happened!
The Pre-amble:
Burnley play high-flying in-form Arsenal at The Emirates this Saturday. Over the wall to our deaths? It certainly feels like we are in the trenches at the moment and that the Gunners are now setting their sights ready to bombard the Clarets once that whistle is blown and we go over the top. This is probably the worst time we could have had this fixture. Confidence, certainly from Clarets fans is low with their team firmly rooted to the bottom of the Premier League and still looking for their first win of the season after nine games. Burnley with just four points from those nine games are now three points behind second from bottom QPR and already need five points to escape the drop zone with fourth from bottom Leicester on nine points. God only knows what confidence must be like in the Burnley camp but the longer this winless streak continues the more their belief and confidence is going to wane. Football may be ‘a funny old world` but hand-on-heart it is difficult to see anything other than a heavy defeat against one of our top Premier League clubs on their home soil. The Emirates is noted for its lack of atmosphere and Arsenal fans are not exactly the most passionate or noisiest in the top flight. We have bought all our ticket allocation so we will just have to hope that 2000 or so vocal visiting fans can raise their team`s spirits and unsettle the home side.
Arsene Wenger`s men are currently fifth in the table with fourteen points from nine games. The stats are frightening. The Gunners are unbeaten in their last 22 home Premier League matches, winning 14 and drawing eight. It gets even more ominous for the Clarets when you realise Arsenal are also unbeaten in their last 14 league matches against promoted opposition. There is one ray of light in the sense that Arsenal have kept just two clean sheets in their last 10 league games at the Emirates Stadium but can you see the likes of the Juke and Ings with just one goal between them all season breaking down a pretty solid Arsenal defence? It is probably little consolation for Clarets fans too that the Gunners have won just three of their nine league matches this season. The last time they won only three out of their first 10 league matches was in 1981-82! Let`s face it we still need a miracle to contain this lot so start praying!
Arsenal Team News:
Arsene Wenger certainly has his injury problems but has a squad with another quality in depth to cover for the absentees.
Gunners` midfielder Jack Wilshere looks set to sit out the game because of a knee injury whilst Kieran Gibbs faces a late fitness test due to a hip problem.
Mathieu Debuchy (ankle), Laurent Koscielny, (Achilles) Mesut Ozil (knee) and Olivier Giroud (ankle) are also all sidelined. Serge Gnabry and Abou Diaby are also still not yet match fit.Forward Yaya Sanogo though could be available after recovering from a hamstring injury.
Player to watch: Alexis Sánchez
Alexis Sánchez recently signed this summer is already the Gunners top marksman this season. He has scored eight goals in 11 appearances so far for Arsenal in all competitions. The 25 year old Chile international striker and winger joined Arsenal from Barcelona in July 2014 for an undisclosed fee after accepting a long term contract. Reports suggest he cost the Gunners £35 million and that puts things into context considering Burnley have only spent £45 million on transfer fees since they were formed in 1882!
Burnley Team News:
Sam Vokes remains the only long-term injured player following surgery last season to fix a cruciate ligament injury but he is making good progress. Our only other injury concerns at the moment are Stephen Reid and Matty Taylor. Reid who has been suffering from a groin injury looks set to remain sidelined although he has returned to full training. According to Dyche he needs another week to fully recover. Taylor meanwhile is still recovering from the surgery he needed to correct a niggling Achilles injury.
There does however appear to be better news surrounding Dean Marney who has been in training all week and looks set to make a return to the starting eleven this Saturday following a hamstring problem. He has been out of action for the last four games and has been sorely missed in the centre of midfield.
Player to watch: Kieran Trippier
Arsenal were reportedly interested in bringing Trippier to the Emirates in the summer as a replacement for right back, Bacary Sagna who signed for Manchester City in June 2014. Thankfully nothing ever came to fruition assuming the rumour was even true. Trippier will certainly need to be at his best against the Gunners both defensively and down the flank. If we are to get anything from this game his trademark crosses could be crucial.
Team & Tactics:
There has been a lot of debate this week about the formation we should adopt against such a high-profile team as Arsenal. Our normal 4-4-2 line-up could be ineffective against the Gunners and there has been some talk that we should adopt the more defence minded 4-5-1 and pack the midfield. The only problem is that the last and only time we played the 4-5-1 system in the top flight this season it ended in disaster following the 4-0 thrashing at the Hawthorns! Nevertheless the return of Marney would allow 4-5-1 and I will assume for the moment that this would be the best option.
Jutkiewicz has been goalless and somewhat ineffective this season despite a number of chances falling his way. He was pretty lacklustre too in our last game at home to Everton last Saturday. The Juke could make way in 4-5-1 and be dropped to the bench. Danny Ings would then be our lone striker upfront. Having Jutkiewicz on the bench would at least give Sean Dyche the option of reverting back to 4-4-2 should the need arise. If Dean Marney returns to the starting eleven to partner David Jones in the centre of midfield that would release Scott Arfield and allow him to play in his more regular role on the wing. Young Chelsea loan, Nathaniel Chalobah has also impressed in his cameo appearances and perhaps now is the time to give him a start.
The other question is who will play at left back? Ben Mee was dropped against the Toffees with the more experienced Stephen Ward replacing him. Against Arsenal that experience could be crucial so Mee once again may have to be content with a place on the bench.
Assuming we do go for the 4-5-1 option, then the eighteen could look something like this:
Heaton, Trippier, Duff, Shackell, Ward, Boyd, Marney, Jones, Chalobah, Arfield, Ings
Subs: Gilks, Keane, Mee, Long, Barnes. Wallace (or Kightly), Jutkiewicz
Ref Watch:
Craig Pawson for the second time this season will be in charge of a game involving the Clarets. The South Yorkshire referee was also in charge of the Swansea game at the Liberty Stadium back in August. We lost that one 1-0 and Clarets fans will be hoping for a better result at the Emirates. Pawson in that game showed three yellow cards, Michael Duff for the Clarets and Jonjo Shelvey and Gylfi Sigurdsson for the hosts. In his six games so far this season, Pawson has produced 23 yellow cards and sent two players off.
Match Prediction:
There is no ‘heart` ruling the ‘head ‘this time! Barring some sort of miracle and a complete off day by the Gunners you can see nothing but defeat in this one and it could be a heavy one if the hosts get into their stride. We will be lucky to keep the score down to 3-0! 3-0 Arsenal then with a lot of praying and hoping I am wrong.
Next Match:
The Tigers are coming to the Turf! Burnley play Hull City at home on Saturday 8th November (Kick-Off: 3pm)
