At the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, a noteworthy face-off awaits between Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal and Vincent Kompany’s Burnley, resembling a reunion from their Manchester City days in the Premier League.
Both teams aim to recover from their respective losses last weekend. Arsenal, after an unbeaten spell, faced a setback against Newcastle United, while Burnley faced an unwanted record, losing 2-0 to Crystal Palace.
Matchday 11 marked the end of both Arsenal and Tottenham’s unbeaten starts in the Premier League, although their losses were distinct. Arteta voiced strong dissatisfaction about the refereeing standards post the 1-0 loss against Newcastle, yet the Gunners need to harness that sense of injustice as motivation for Burnley’s visit this week.
Despite being three points behind league leaders Manchester City, Arsenal’s performance in the 2023-24 season hasn’t been at its peak. Excluding penalties, Arsenal’s expected goals (xG) place them at 11th in the league with a total of 14.8 – averaging 1.35 per game. In contrast, last season, they were third, averaging 1.84 xG per match.
The midweek Champions League game saw more controversy around refereeing, where Arsenal witnessed Sevilla’s Nemanja Gudelj make several challenges without any reprimand, putting Bukayo Saka at risk. However, Saka’s resilience stood out as he contributed to Arsenal’s win against Sevilla. For Arsenal, it was a welcome triumph in Europe after two consecutive domestic defeats – an EFL Cup exit against West Ham United and the Premier League loss to Newcastle. Arsenal was vocal about debatable calls by the referees in those games.
Despite missing a chance to take the top spot, Arsenal is now fourth after 11 matches, trailing Manchester City by three points. However, their recent home form, winning their last three games at the Emirates with clean sheets, presents a promising outlook – a contrast to their defensive issues at home last season.
Moreover, Arsenal’s history indicates a stronghold at home against newly-promoted teams. They’ve not been defeated in their last 37 home games against them, boasting an impressive record of 32 wins and five draws. Meanwhile, Burnley seeks solace away from their Turf Moor base after an unfortunate Premier League record of six consecutive home defeats.
For Burnley, their loss to Crystal Palace sealed their fate as the first team to lose their first six home games in a Premier League season. Despite Vincent Kompany’s emphasis on an aggressive attacking style, Burnley’s meager eight goals represent the worst offensive record in the league.
Though Burnley managed to avoid defeat in their last two visits to the Emirates, they’ve suffered three successive away losses with a total of eight goals conceded since October 21. This trend sets them at a disadvantage against Arsenal once more.
Team News:
Injuries have further complicated matters for both teams. Arsenal are grappling with multiple players’ fitness concerns, while Burnley will miss a few due to injury or illness. Kompany might consider a more conservative approach, possibly bolstering his midfield for the Emirates encounter.
Saka’s injury scares in the match against Sevilla had Gooners worried, but Arteta doesn’t suspect a serious issue. However, injuries continue to be a concern for Arsenal, with Gabriel Jesus, Martin Ødegaard, and Eddie Nketiah among those being assessed ahead of the Burnley clash. Several players, including Emile Smith Rowe, Jurrien Timber, and Thomas Partey, will remain unavailable.
Burnley’s Josh Cullen returns from suspension, but injuries sideline Manuel Benson, Aaron Ramsey, Michael Obafemi, Ameen Al-Dakhil, and Lyle Foster.
Date, Kick-off Time, and Venue:
Arsenal vs Burnley is set for a 3 pm GMT kick-off on Saturday, November 11, 2023, at the Emirates Stadium.
Possible Lineups
Arsenal Possible Starting Lineup vs Burnley: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Havertz, Jorginho, Rice; Saka, Trossard, Martinelli.
Burnley Possible Starting Lineup vs Arsenal: Trafford; Roberts, O’Shea, Beyer, Taylor; Gudmundsson, Berge, Brownhill, Cullen, Koleosho; Amdouni.
The clash between Arsenal and Burnley will certainly be an interesting battle, with both teams striving for redemption and looking to address their respective concerns on the field.
