A distinctly dull and wet Emirates seemed to sum up the plight and mood of both the teams in the Arsenal vs Burnley fixture, a game that neither could afford to lose. Both sides were struggling at both ends but Arsenal slightly less so, yet you could sense the nerves, tension, and reluctance to drop points.
The Gunners are hard on the eyes at the moment and at times during the Arsenal vs Burnley contest, the only voices you could hear were coming from the technical areas. Hard to believe that 2,000 fans were even present on an evening that would eventually feel twice as long as the 95 minutes it was allocated.
Sean Dyche resembled a Bond villain pacing up and down the touchline, barking instructions with a voice that sounds as if the Burnley man was munching gravel. This was going to be another night of dire consequences, another toothless performance, and another instance of Arsenal’s indiscipline. All this, with the football gods smiling on the North London club with a series of unbelievably kind results.
As the whistle went, I felt fairly positive but by the end of the final one, there were more questions than answers from an Arsenal perspective. The team selection said safe when what was needed was flair and an adventurous spirit, however, we saw more evidence of the same problem in the middle which has stifled the attack.
It was, in all fairness a dull first 45, with few bright moments to speak of. The 13th minute saw a goalmouth scramble between Aubameyang, Lacazette, and Saka, but the ball would need to be forced heavily past a very useful looking Nick Pope.
Straight up the other end and Burnley had a sniff of goal, illustrating that their position isn’t based on a lack of collective talent. Arsenal’s defence switched off and allowed Wood a free header which seemed to contact with head and shoulder as everyone in a red and white shirt held their breath while the ball span beyond the post.
In the 21st minute, Holding almost put the Gunners ahead from a super-cross from Saka, but he just couldn’t connect properly and the ball eventually flew over by a few feet. Although Arsenal looked good value to eventually turn the screw, they could not make the final twist. Burnley kept reminding the Arsenal side that they weren’t about to roll over and give up the points without a fight. Burnley never do.
The second half saw Arsenal still knocking in the door but the Arsenal vs Burnley game changed in two pivotal moments, the first was another example of Xhaka madness (57) and if Arteta keeps this guy beyond the coming transfer windows, he should go.
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A few sound performances aren’t enough when they are accompanied by twice the amount of mistakes and the odd smattering of stupidity. Suddenly, it was another Palace moment for the Swiss midfielder when he suddenly saw red after contacting with McNeil.
There followed a heated debate between players from both sides and Xhaka appeared to try to replicate the actions of the exiled Guendouzi by grabbing the throat of Westwood. Straight red, no complaints. If the job wasn’t difficult enough, one sensed it was becoming impossible and one final twist of fate would put the Arsenal vs Burnley game beyond them.
Elneny was incredibly lucky not to follow Xhaka in the 72nd minute when he appeared to almost rerun the throat grabbing manoeuvre. He got a yellow card which was lenient and that’s when Arsenal’s luck suddenly evaporated and from a corner (74), the game would run away from the Gunners. Aubameyang out jumped Brownhill and the ball skimmed off his head into the Arsenal net leaving Leno stranded and despite Arsenal’s increased intent, the all-important equalising goal would not come.
Arsenal hadn’t lost four games at home since 1959 and all the signs are there to indicate that those types of unenviable records will keep coming. It may even be a relief when the Europa League adventure is over to allow the side to focus completely on the Premier League.
One thing for sure, no more excuses! Wholesale changes need to be made and the players waiting in the wings, all so highly regarded, need to take their place in this flat and dull side.
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I announced after the first 45 that Smith Rowe should replace Xhaka and Maitland-Niles should have replaced the dreadful Willian. We’ll never know how the Arsenal vs Burnley match would have gone if that had happened but I felt it was a much smarter move than starting the second half with the same formation and players.
Patrice Evra later caused a storm on Sky (via Daily Mail) by claiming that he went to Thierry Henry’s house to watch an Arsenal match and when the club’s former striker discovered Xhaka was Arsenal captain, he turned off the match. That’s exactly how a great many of us have felt since he arrived.
Arsenal’s woes continue and things need to change within the next two weeks or it will become almost impossible to resist the calls for Arteta’s head, but I think it can still be put right by one good performance and result. We will see.
