Aaaaah, the warm embrace of the precious Premier League, has returned. Obviously, it’s only a warm embrace, if The Arsenal win.
It’s a cold death grip, if we lose. (Hahaha!)
We arrive at Burnley, and we HAVE TO be focused. They’re not to be taken lightly. Burnley have only lost one game at home, in the last eighteen months.
These are the type of games that can ruin a good run, if the professionalism, concentration, and the commitment, isn’t right.
Arteta though… simply won’t allow even a smidge of complacency to creep in… and neither will the players, for that matter.
I’m sure that the hurt from last season’s shortcomings, aren’t far away from the Arsenal players’ thoughts. I’m certain that the bitter taste in their mouth, of another second place finish, has been the catalyst for the incredible run we’re currently on.
So yes, a potential banana skin, but instead of a slip-up, I foresee us slipping into overdrive, collecting all three points, and using said banana, to make a smoothie.
Okaaaay, so on to the line-up…
Raya back in goal, Calafiori returned at left-back, Gabriel, and Saliba, central. Saliba, fully recovered from his injury… and the irrepressible Jurrien Timber, at right-back.
In the midfield… Rice, Zubimendi, and Eze.
Up top, Trossard on the left, who has his 100th league appearance for Arsenal.
Gyokeres through the middle, and Bukayo “The Starboy” Saka, on the right.
The game started as most predicted, with Burnley in a low block, well organised, and in an extremely disciplined shape.
Arsenal had all the possession in the opening exchanges, as they often do, looking for weaknesses to exploit.
We earned a corner in the 14th minute, which was taken by Declan Rice.
He put a deep cross into Gabriel at the far post, who delicately side-footed the ball back across goal, and Gyokeres headed the ball in, from close range. A much needed early goal, to disturb Burnley’s defensive shape. An intelligent pass from big Gabby. 1-0 to the Arsenal!!
I think it’s safe to say that it’s been well documented, that The Arsenal are DEADLY from set-pieces, but what’s less spoken about… is our ability to limiting teams to even having a shot on target against us. The things we’re taking in our stride, have never been done before. Give The Arsenal their flowers, while they can still smell ‘em… is all I’m saying.
In the 23rd minute, Gyokeres put Saka through on goal, one-on-one with the keeper… but unfortunately, Saka’s shot was straight at him. So unlike Saka, by his own high standards.
We’re so used to Saka doing superhuman things, that when he does something human, it’s alien to us. Unlucky Bukayo… but it should’ve been 2-0.
Gyokeres has been exceptional in this half… his runs, and hold-up play, have been awe-inspiring. This is what he’s been doing in previous games, but it’s just been less noticeable. TODAY though, everyone can see! Him terrifying the opposition, is undeniable.
Trossard, who I spoke about in previous pieces… has been running the Burnley defenders rugged. They don’t know if he’s going to go left, or right… pass, or shoot. His unpredictability, is causing chaos in the Burnley ranks.
From a Burnley throw-in in the 35th minute, Arsenal defended well, from a commanding header by big Gabby, that was helped on by Bukayo Saka, to Gyokeres.
Gyokeres, just on the halfway-line… spotted a great run from Trossard, and he picked him out with a pass, that had a surgeons precision. Trossard on the left, and on the edge of the Burnley box… saw Rice powering through, and floated an inviting cross in, that Declan Rice dispatched, with a towering header. What a wonderful counter-attack, from The Arsenal. So aesthetically pleasing, to the football purist. It really was, a thing of beauty. 2-0 to the Arsenal!!
The first half finished 2-0… and it’s nothing less than Arsenal deserved. We’d been the MUCH BETTER team, and asked ALL the questions, that Burnley couldn’t answer.
Put simply, we were just too good for Burnley.
The second half began, and to the dismay of the Arsenal faithful, Gyokeres didn’t emerge for the second half. He was replaced by Mikel Merina, due to a suspected muscular injury to Viktor Gyokeres. Let’s hope it’s just purely a precautionary substitution. We’ve suffered enough, injury-wise.
For anyone who’s STILL doubting the impact Gyokeres has had on this team, the effect his absence had on his teammates, was instantaneous. Our whole attacking energy changed. It’s like Burnley collectively breathed a huge sigh of relief, and the confidence in their defensive line, shifted for the better.
Yes, we know Mikel Merino is a quality player, but he’s NOT, a No.9… and because he’s NOT a No.9, he was coming A LOT deeper to receive the ball, and wasn’t trying to get in behind the Burnley back-line.
Everything we did thereafter, seemed a little slower… there was less urgency, and it seemed like retaining possession, became more important than passing with purpose.
Burnley came into the game much more, as a result of that… and both Eze, and Saka, having a quiet day, didn’t help matters.
We were still in control, but it felt like we were one pass away, from unnecessary nervousness.
I think the Arsenal players started to cast an eye on the upcoming Champions League game, against Slavia Prague… and who can blame them, for taking their foot off the gas, to conserve energy?!… Well, certainly not me.
Though saying that, an unwelcomed sloppiness, crept into our game, which gave Burnley a hope, and a new lease of life, that the Arsenal players didn’t need.
Arteta, animated as ever on the touchline… kept complacency at bay, and reminded the players, the three points were not quite in the bag.
In the 72nd minute, Eze was replaced by Nwaneri, and Calafiori was replaced by Hincapie.
The Arsenal fans were reminded that Hincapie can also play at left-back. A pleasant reminder, of the player’s versatility.
Also, Ethan Nwaneri had a great cameo appearance. He looked confident, was making direct runs, and dangerous passes. He’s growing in stature, and has established himself, as an important player in this team.
In the 77th minute, Zubimendi made way for Norgaard. Yet ANOTHER great game for Zubimendi… and I feel that his consistently superb performances, are being taken for granted.
We had a couple of half chances, but we knew the game was won, and didn’t try to force the issue. We were professional. We were efficient.
Lewis-Skelly came on for the magnificent Leandro Trossard, in the 91st minute, but that was merely a token gesture. The game was won, and we were just wasting time.
We saw the game out, and took a 2-0 victory, and all three points.
This win made it ten wins in-a-row, and this is something that we hadn’t done, since 2018. Our level of consistency, is rendering rival fans, and agenda wielding, mainstream media… SPEECHLESS. It’s wonderful to witness!
Declan Rice was absolutely SENSATIONAL, by the way. He ran, he tackled, he passed, he assisted, he scored, he instructed, he came, he saw, he conquered! What a performance!
An incredible work rate, and will to win, from Deckers.
We’re still top of the league… (It’s early, so I won’t mention our points advantage) we’re still limiting teams to a zero, or a one shot maximum… so, yet ANOTHER, good weekend for The Arsenal.
Next up, is the Champions League, and it’s an away tie to Slavia Prague.
A difficult game, as there’s no easy games in the Champions League… but I think we have too much in our locker, for Slavia Prague.
We’re just far too, Praguematic.
COYG!!
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