Arsenal host Burnley at the Emirates in the Premier League on Sunday, looking to get over their Cup’s heartbreak.
BURNLEY, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 18: Martin Odegaard scores Arsenal first goal during the Premier League match between Burnley at Turf Moor (Getty Images)
The Gunners have lost three and won none of their last four games, suffering an EFL Cup elimination to Liverpool and going out to Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup during that run coupled with an unfortunate defeat against Manchester City in the last PL match.
Meanwhile, Burnley will play for the first time since January 8 when they head to Arsenal on Sunday after a number of postponements due to coronavirus.
Burnley have not played since losing Chris Wood to relegation rivals Newcastle United and desperately need to make the most of their (admittedly many) games in hand.
Team News
Arsenal will be without two key midfielders as they welcome Burnley to the Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Both Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey are suspended for the game with the pair sent off in either leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final defeat at the hands of Liverpool.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s is tested being okay but the match against Clarets come too soon, while Cedric Soares (hip), Bernd Leno (back) and Calum Chambers (neck) all missed the second leg with Mohamed Elneny and Nicolas Pepe still at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Burnley
Burnley still face uncertainty over which players might be available for the match, having not played since the FA Cup defeat to Huddersfield on January 8 following a Covid-19 outbreak and their fitness must be assessed after a spell out.
Meanwhile, Ashley Barnes(injury), Charlie Taylor is doubtful with an injury problem.
Also, Burnley will be without former striker Chris Wood who completed a winter transfer to Newcastle and in form talism Maxwel Cornet due to Afcon.
Possible Lineups
Arsenal possible starting lineup(4231):
Ramsdale; Tomiyasu, White, Gabriel, Tierney; Lokonga, Odegaard; Saka, Smith Rowe, Martinelli; Lacazette
Burnley possible starting lineup(442):
Pope; Lowton, Tarkowski, Mee, Taylor; Gudmundsson, Cork, Westwood, Brownhill; Lennon, Rodriguez
OPTA STATS
- Arsenal have lost just one of their last 18 league games against Burnley (W12 D5), though it did come in this exact fixture last season (0-1 thanks to a Pierre-Emerickseason (0-1 thanks to a Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang own goal).
- Burnley are looking to win consecutive away league games against Arsenal for just the third time, previously doing so in December 1950 and December 1960.
- Burnley haven’t scored more than once in any of their last 17 meetings with Arsenal in all competitions.
- Burnley have won five of their last nine Premier League games in London (D1 L3), having won just three of their first 30 visits to the capital in the competition (D4 L23).
- This is Arsenal’s first league game since their 2-1 home loss to Manchester City on New Year’s Day. The Gunners haven’t lost their first two league games to a calendar year since 2012, while they’ve not lost their first two home league games in a year since 1962.
- Burnley are winless in their last 11 Premier League away games, drawing four and losing seven. They’ve lost their last three on the road in the competition, last losing more consecutively between November 2016 and February 2017 (7).
- Burnley’s last two away league games have ended in 3-1 defeats (vs Leeds and Manchester United) – they’ve not conceded 3+ goals in three consecutive away games since October 2016.
- Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka has been directly involved in a goal in each of his last five Premier League games, scoring four and assisting two in these matches. If he registers a goal or assist in this match, he’d be the youngest to do so in six consecutive appearances in the competition’s history (20 years 140 days).
Prediction
Arsenal 2:0 Burnley
Arsenal will be desperate for a lift when they welcome Burnley to the Emirates Stadium for Sunday’s Premier League clash.
Arsenal have made the Emirates fortress this season which is clearly seen how City had to wait until the last mins of the game to have their 3 points.
Arsenal tally of 22 points from 10 home games this term is the third best in the league and have won seven of their last nine at home in which there has been more than one goal margin in six of those victories.
With just one win in the campaign so far, Burnley have endured a torrid run this season and the departure of Chris Wood to Newcastle and Maxwel Cornet’s inclusion in the Ivory Coast’s AFCON squad further aggravate their woes with Jay Rodriguez remain only available player for the Emirates clash who have scored more than two goals this season.
Arsenal Having kept four consecutive clean sheets in home league games before the City clash, they will certainly back themselves to keep at bay a Clarets team deprived of their key front men.