Burnley v Arsenal – Match Preview | OneFootball

Having ended their losing run against Norwich City last weekend, Arsenal will be hoping to build on that victory with a positive result away at Burnley on Saturday afternoon.

Here’s all you need to know about that meeting at Turf Moor:

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Burnley: LLWDL

As ever, it’s been a tough start to the season for the Clarets, having picked up just one point from their opening four Premier League games thus far, their only victory coming against fellow strugglers Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup, courtesy of a penalty shootout triumph following a goalless draw.

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Their most recent league encounter saw them swept aside by a second-half blitz from Everton at Goodison Park, with the Toffees netting three times in the space of just six minutes to secure a 3-1 victory, after Ben Mee had given the visitors the lead just after the interval.

Sean Dyche’s men had given a good account of themselves in the first-half and deserved to nudge in front after the break, yet they were simply blown away by an Andros Townsend-inspired second-half revival from their opponents, the former Tottenham man netting a stunning long-range effort to put his side ahead.

While three defeats from four is a far from an ideal start to the campaign for Burnley, there will be no sense of panic among the players nor supporters, with it almost becoming their trademark to get off to a slow start before ultimately surviving comfortably, as demonstrated last term in which it took eight games to register a league win.

The club will also have been handed a huge confidence boost by the news that Dyche has committed his long-term future to the Turf Moor club having signed a new four-year deal this week, with the 50-year-old continuing to work wonders on a shoe-string budget in what is now his – and the club’s – sixth successive season in the top-flight.

As for this weekend, the likes of Kevin Long, Dale Stephens and summer signing Conor Roberts all remain fitness doubts.

Arsenal: LLWLW

While Burnley may still be waiting for a league win, Arsenal secured their first victory of the season last weekend against bottom side Norwich City, having lost their opening three league games against Brentford, Chelsea and Manchester City.

That victory against the Canaries will be a welcome relief to manager Mikel Arteta, the Spaniard having come under intense pressure amid their dismal August displays, particularly following the 5-0 thrashing at the Etihad.

Against Daniel Farke’s side, the Gunners were far from perfect and produced a somewhat edgy showing in front of their home support, yet a scrappy Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang goal proved to be the difference as the north London club hung on for a desperately needed three points to hoist themselves off the bottom of the table.

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The hosts had largely dominated proceedings at the Emirates yet squandered a number of chances to make it a more comfortable encounter, Arteta’s side netting just once from a remarkable tally of 30 attempts on goal.

That failure to convert chances will no doubt be a concern – just as it was last term – although at the other end of the pitch the backline does look to be beginning to take shape, with both Aaron Ramsdale and deadline day arrival Takehiro Tomiyasu impressing on debut, while the return of Ben White and Gabriel at the heart of the defence was also a significant boost.

As for the trip to Turf Moor, Arteta will once again be without Granit Xhaka as he serves the second of his three-match suspension, while both Rob Holding and Mohamed Elneny are also likely to miss out through injury.

Last Meeting

Burnley 1-1 Arsenal, 6 March 2021

Prior to February 2020, Burnley had lost 10 of their 11 Premier League meetings with Arsenal, yet since then it’s become a much more positive fixture for the Clarets, with two draws and a win from their last three top-flight encounters.

After securing victory against the Gunners for the first time since a League Cup tie back in 2008 with a 1-0 win in December 2020, Dyche’s men followed that up with another positive result in the second-half of last season.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had given the visitors the lead inside six minutes, before a Granit Xhaka blunder gifted the home side – and Chris Wood – a leveller just before the interval, the Swiss international having also been sent off in the reverse fixture earlier that season.

Looking to hanging on for a point, Burnley then survived a late onslaught to continually deny their opponents, Ben Mee notably clearing off the line from an Aubameyang strike while Dani Ceballos also struck the post in the dying seconds, with Arteta’s men having already had a penalty correctly overturned by VAR.

Predicted Lineups

Burnley: Pope; Lowton, Tarkowski, Mee, Taylor; Gudmundsson, Westwood, Cork, McNeil; Barnes, Wood

Arsenal: Ramsdale; Tomiyasu, White, Gabriel, Tierney; Partey, Lokonga; Pepe, Odegaard, Saka; Aubameyang

Who is the referee?

Anthony Taylor

What time is kick off?

Saturday 18 September, 15:00 BST

Odds

Burnley – 11/4

Arsenal – 1/1

Draw – 5/2

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