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Home > Arsenal > Arsenal Came up Short and Were in a Generous Mood Against Burnley

Arsenal Came up Short and Were in a Generous Mood Against Burnley

Burnley v Arsenal

Arsenal arrived at Turf Moor looking to build on their impeccable performance against Leicester and at this stage of the season, every point is crucial. Arteta shuffled his pack again for the Burnley v Arsenal game and this time, we were grateful to see the reappearance and assured touch of Thomas Partey, but more than a little surprised by the news that Callum Chambers would be taking the place of Cedric or Bellerin.

Does that indicate a lack of confidence in both right-backs or is it simply an excuse to give Chambers some playing time before placing him in the shop window in the summer? I just don’t know anymore. No Lacazette, Pepe, or Martinelli, which was a shame for all three and Arteta had also placed Bellerin, Holding, and Gabriel on a strong looking, disappointed bench.

The Burnley v Arsenal game had a good feeling about it as Arsenal took on a side that was slowly slipping into the jaws of relegation and a win here would help the hosts on their way. The Gunners came out lively and Aubameyang (6) put the Gunners ahead with his usual left side cut in with a well-crafted pass from Willian, yes, Willian again. Nick Pope managed to get a glove on it but couldn’t keep it from flying into the net and at this point, three or four goals were a distinct possibility.

Burnley v Arsenal
Copyright: xClivexBrunskillx 58451601 (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Imago Images)

Defensively, it was a moment to forget for Burnley with the Gabon striker close to five players in claret and that may have something to do with the less than polished strike, but the ball went it regardless. Aside from Aubameyang’s celebration, there were lots to admire here, Odegaard still looks a work in progress but showed some nice touches, Partey looked a powerful and purposeful figure who will become a major asset to this morphing Arsenal side and Willian was full of zeal and desire.

However, Arsenal squandered chances again and should have been 3 goals to the good before halftime, with a delightful Saka move that saw him jiggle his way into the box past another collection of Burnley ball watchers but it somehow stayed out.

As is often the case, Arsenal then conceded the sort of goal worthy of a school side with a massive misunderstanding between Leno and Xhaka. I’m not sure what Xhaka was doing, where he was looking, or what he was thinking, but he ignored a simple hoof out in favour of thudding the ball into the hip of the advancing Wood which took it past the motionless Leno.

It’s these types of lapses in concentration that make Xhaka a marmite player and all the good work over recent weeks has been overshadowed by an error so laughable that you wouldn’t find it even three leagues lower down. If that was Premier League standard, then Tom Cruise will be the next president and my Aunt will win master chef with her lazy green salad and the usual cremated egg.

This was ugly and if you watch it again, you will want to forget it but you just can’t, imagine if you’re Xhaka. He won’t sleep for six months after that horrible moment that has probably condemned Arsenal to a top ten finish only. Let’s be clear if Arsenal are going to make a balls-up of a game, Luiz or Xhaka is normally the usual suspects but it was so easy to avoid.

After the goal, Burnley knew that they could count on a point at least, if not more, seeing as Arsenal were in such a generous mood and Leno had to be on his toes, especially with an outrageous dipping shot from Pieters. However, Arsenal were capable of still getting all three points and they peppered the Burnley goal to such a degree that the score could have been 2-6 quite easily.

VAR (very Arsenal resistant) played its part again, when doesn’t it? Two handballs, the same player Erik Pieters, one decision correct, one not, same old story this season. How VAR cannot determine handball with the benefit of multiple angles and slo-mo is quite alarming and if this isn’t corrected soon, then the death of the beautiful game will be within the next 10 years because people will stop paying vast sums to be robbed or cheated.

As for Arsenal, they remain in catch-up mode with Premier League games running out and no obliging teams in a league that has suffered multiple trauma and Arteta can’t moan with much conviction because yet again, the Gunners didn’t kill the game off when they had the chance.

It’s almost as if they think they can score a goal at will if they concede one, but this is not the Wenger side that in its heyday could concede three and score four. Arteta’s gun looks good but it’s short of bullets and in this dog eat dog league, failure is never too far away.

READ MORE:

Will the Real Willian Please Stand Up

So Just Where do you Stand on Xhaka Now

Match Analysis | Arsenal Show Real Desire With a Gutsy Performance Over a Jaded Looking Leicester

Fans have to accept the result of the Burnley v Arsenal game, it’s horrible and one wishes that it hadn’t have happened but in the seasons ahead, it won’t be paramount in our minds. By the time Arsenal are ready to compete in the Premier League, Burnley may be in a division below them because Dyche can’t keep going to the well without a bucket.

Arsenal appear to have one decent game, two at most, before slipping back into their error-filled game and they allowed Burnley back into a match where they had no right to be on terms. Every point is massive for Dyche and if it comes down to the wire, this Burnley v Arsenal game will be the one where he got out of jail again.

Ultimately, Arsenal fans can’t keep citing bad luck or VAR as the reason that they lose or draw games, the side doesn’t take its chances and gives the opposition plenty. Simple as that!

Follow ArseDevils for more Matchday updates.

The Highbury Flyer
Anti Kroenke , anti Gazidis but always a gooner. Still wishes he could watch from the stands at the Highbury library.
https://arsedevils.com

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