After a disappointing draw against Hull and a Sunderland assisted victory at the Stadium of Light, Arsenal have moved up to 5th place, behind both West Ham and Southampton.
Presuming those two will tail off before Christmas, Arsenal are ahead of Champions League rivals Manchester United, Liverpool, Everton and Tottenham (listed decreasing by threat level).
However, Arsenal are behind title rivals Manchester City and Chelsea. That is, if you believe that anyone actually is title rivals to Chelsea this season.
Pre Match Stats
Burnley’s defence started their Premier League campaign admirably, keeping 3 clean sheets in their first 5 games. However, in the last month they have shipped in 12 goals in 4 games, picking up a solitary point on the way. Only QPR, Sunderland and Everton have conceded more goals than them in the league this season.
Arsenal’s defence has only been marginally better. While conceding 5 fewer goals than Burnley, Arsenal have kept fewer clean sheets than the Clarets this season. Last week’s trip up to Sunderland provided only the 2nd clean sheet of the season, with Arsenal yet to prevent an opposition scoring at the Emirates this season.
Burnley have failed to scored in more games (5) than they have managed to scored in (4), while Chelsea are the only team to have prevented Arsenal from scoring this season. However, 1 of Burnley’s 5 goals did come from outside the box, a feat that Arsenal are yet to achieve this season.
Arsenal’s only home victory this season has come against Crystal Palace on the opening day of the season, while Burnley are yet to register a win, home or away.
Injuries
It wouldn’t be an Arsenal game if the team weren’t to pick up at least one injury. This week, the team have managed to pick up two. Jack Wilshere is set to miss the game with a knee injury, which is thought to be “very short term”, while Kieran Gibbs is to face a last minute fitness test after coming off injured against Sunderland.
Other ineligible Arsenal players include: Ospina, Giroud, Diaby, Debuchy, Sanogo, Ozil, Gnabry & Koscielny.
While Theo Walcott remains in the squad, Wenger has said that the Englishman will not be starting the game, and notes the need for patience in his recovery.
The visitors are without Steven Reid, who joins Matt Taylor and Sam Volks on their treatment table. However, Dean Marney could make a return, having trained all week.
Expected Line-ups
The back line depends largely on Gibbs’ fitness, but given the England international’s track record, it would not be surprising if the manager didn’t risk aggravating the injury. Leaving 2 teenagers in the back 4 might be a risk, but it is one worth taking against Burnley at home.
Wenger will look to be less cautious than he was at the Stadium of Light, with Ramsey coming on for Flamini in the midfield. While Oxlade Chamberlain has failed to impress in his last 2 starts for the club, he is likely to remain in the starting XI at the expense of Campbell and Podolski, neither of whom seem to be trusted by Arsene Wenger.
Golden Boy Alexis Sanchez is presumably the first name on the team-sheet, with Danny Welbeck a close second. The latter’s inclusion may largely be down to a lack of viable alternatives at the moment. Santi Cazorla will be looking to improve on his somewhat lacklustre performances over recent weeks. It remains to be seen whether Alexis will remain the in the coveted “number 10” position just behind Welbeck.
Arsenal: Szczęsny, Bellerin, Mertesacker, Chambers, Monreal, Ramsey, Arteta, Cazorla, Sanchez, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Welbeck.
Burnley: Heaton, Trippier, Duff, Shackell, Ward, Boyd , Arfield ,Jones, Kightly, Jutkiewicz ,Ings
Latest:
