@LaboGoon adopts a mandibular extension
Much has been made of Arsenal’s impressive 22 game unbeaten run which included quite a few jaw dropping performances. There was a prevailing feeling that we had buried some of the demons of the past, however, all that came to an end following back to back defeats against Southampton and North London rivals Tottenham respectively.
Good day one and all…
With Christmas spirits dented ever so slightly we host Burnley at the Emirates this early afternoon hoping to get back to winning ways and put recent setbacks behind us.
The Gunners would be disappointed at the manner the unbeaten run came to an end at St Mary’s – even with injury and suspension issues. With all our defenders available we always looked somewhat disorganized at the back but time and again scored our way out of trouble. Then just as we started getting our defensive act together we became less clinical in front of goal; getting a draw here and grinding out a win there. Last Sunday and midweek though were like a cocktail of defensive disarray and attacking profligacy – two traits we can ill afford to once again combine facing a struggling Burnley side.
The Clarets of course have just a solitary win in their last ten Premier League games (D2 L7) but despite how out of sorts they may seem they’re always competitive. Last Saturday they were on the verge for a share of the spoils at Wembley. Withstood everything the Totties threw at them for +90 minutes, but for a Eriksen strike in the dying seconds of the game. They are likely to adopt a similar defence-minded and creative time wasting approach hoping for a different result.
Unai Emery and the boys cannot dwell on our defeats because they know that despite any defensive woes, if we are determined to stay in the race for top-four we have to go at the Clarets guns blazing. A bit more energy and creativity from the onset should help eliminate the first half struggles and show the lethal qualities our attack do possess, as chasing the game going into second halves holding a kitchen sink seem to be taking its toll on the boys.
It’s been a while but there may be a general feel that this is a “must win” game. With teams at the top end in good nick we don’t want to be too far off the pace to capitalize on any momentary slips, whilst also wanting to maintain the distance between ourselves and the José-less Manchester United.
I don’t really like to add “team selection” stuff to my posts but I do hope lessons got learned from recent trial and error picks across the midfield and defense. I do take heart though that Unai said he will select the best starting lineup from the available players.
Most expected a comfortable afternoon down at South Coast last weekend but the football spirits had others ideas, so hopefully our players put in a more committed performance from back to front and remain sharp throughout to ensure the Clarets leave London empty-handed.
Positively Arsenal 
I’d appreciate less jaw dropping, edge of the seat, white knuckle today. A smoother, efficient, going into HT in the lead kind of the performance would be a lovely (pre) Christmas surprise.
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Many thanks LG for the great prologue.
Sometimes(LOL) when I see the stats showing that a team hasnt won in twenty years etc and then they are playing us, I get that strange feeling inside, it isnt benevolence rising, more “oh no, please let us not be the charitable team”. Heres to the Gunners being old Scrooge today, giving away nothing and taking all!
Enjoy the game you Positive Gooners!
Thanks again.
COYG!
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Cant see many football logical pple thinking we were going to stroll it down at the saints last week oweing to all the problems we had going in to the game, the new manager effect and our history at the venue.
As for today yes we need the proverbial early goal, defensive solidarity and of course flair and a clinical eye for goal we have not seen in recent weeks. Crossing has been a problem especially from the right and with two banks of five against us width will be critical. This is a game the deft touches of Aaron and Mesut will be vital.
Personally I think we are a fair weather team (much like our supporters) and as long as the sun shines we will be fine COYG.
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Nice preview.
Onward. My little group plan a post-game pre-Christmas drink today. Let’s home the mood is set well by the team.
UTA
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And where would the best watering hole be for post match analysis?
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“quite a few jaw dropping performances”
Really? Really?, 2 maybe 3 at best, otherwise it was some jaw dropping moments in games, some great goals, but the norm was flat first half – still haven’t led a BPL game at HT and we are 17 games in – send on the cavalry for the second half and try and get something out of the game. Clean sheets were harder to come by than an Emery starting 11 that did not need rescuing at half time, the early season run of wins turned into many draws, and now we have defeats again.
The PR is that its all about the system, a way of playing, that the design means its not about how good individual players are, its about running, effort, having trained for all eventualities, every player knowing where he is meant to be in every situation, we don’t need sublime talent like Ozil, we don’t need a goalscoring maverick like Ramsey, no we need a know the system Mkhitaryan, we need the tracking back of Iwobi, never mind the end product.
The system is king, but please ignore that the system is letting in more goals than the old system, that six months of fantastic new coaching, fantastic new system, and the defensive midfielder we craved for since Gilberto left, and we are further from 4th spot than at same stage last season, and are out of the CC cup.
I have really enjoyed the good PR from the club this season, but I’m long enough in the tooth to know that the piss on my back is not warm rain.
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A lot riding on an early breakthrough. Will get more and more tense without one, with lots of time wasting and all the rest.
Fingers crossed.
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Great post Labo without getting into the details of team selection.
But as everyone expecting Ozil Ramsey & Laca to start with Auba on the wings & Xaka in MF I expect full 3 points.
Coyg.
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Eddy @ 10.43 AM
Here is not the place for that sort of opinion.*banned smiley face*
I agree with every word by the way.
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well george its exactly the same sort of opinions i spouted under the last manager, pr or no pr I will say what i believe
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Ed @ 10:43
Great post as usual.
A perfect summary of the season so far at Arsenal post Wenger.
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Yep – I recall the complaints well – “something must be done”
I’m with you there – something must be done.
what ?
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Oddly enough the Uddersfeeld game I thought we’d turned a small corner on the defensive front as we kept the clean sheet against a team that scored away from home most games. Silly bastard am I !
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One small improvement I have noticed, which may explain why we have not let in even more goals is all three of our new signings are much more “take-one-for-the-team” kinda guys. The quick move breaking trip to an opponent comes second nature toLucas, Matteo and Sokratis is happy to tug the attacker or accidentally stand on his heel.
Small steps as I say.
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That is a back 4 then ?
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Ozil is captain today
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It might be a back 3 with Elneny at CB or, god forbid, Xhaka there again.
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It’s Burnley – I refuse to believe it.
Tbf with Lucas being given the afternoon off there is a spare slot for both Mo and Granit to fill in midfield
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17 year old Saka in the subs for the first time in the BPL
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JB@gunnerpunner
12m12 minutes ago
Xhaka just confirmed on sky he’s playing in midfield. Everyone relax.
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Surprised to see Saka as I thought he was miles away from PL action – as he is on the bench I hope we see a bit of his tricky footwork against a tiring, demoralised Burnley late in the game.
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seemingly Torreira not starting cos he has a cold
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I trust the cold is not “tactical” and the the Uruguayan’s agent is is not angling for a move in the January window*
*it is the paranoid Stalinist in me
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Hoping, perhaps against hope of anything is up between the manager and Ozil, it is an attempt to gee the player up a bit. And what better chance to show his focus and showcase his talents than today against a stubborn opponent who will use every trick in the book, and the considerable leeway the PGMOL seem to allow to frustrate the boys.
Hopefully, today will be about the creatives, not the cloggers.
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Eddy at 10:43 am – False diagnosis leads to wrong prescriptions. The dominant narrative in the mainstream media and among our biggest bloggers and podcasters is Emery needs to implement a new system as virtually everything was bad under Wenger. The PR team at Arsenal is playing to the narrative. Most of us here will give Emery time but will this fanbase? Seebs said they are “fairweather”. I say entirely spoiled by Wenger. They won’t take kindly to many more setbacks.
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Shocking to see a player who has been out for most of 2018 with injury return after a recent niggle and after being rested for the less important fixture of the current Xmas crunch. With the captain’s armband.
Should’ve put a bet on…
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Almost a goal at either end. Bellerin instead the less familiar AMN would have had a fraction less hesitation there on the shot, Auba unlucky with the rebound, awful effort from a one on one by the Burnley striker.
COYG!
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< least important fixture of the current fixture crunch…
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I wouldn’t blame the defensive coaching for ease of burnley’s attack in that instance.
Or blame the coaches losing his ability to coach younger players for the need to rest Iwobi for a spell.
Arsenal could’ve scored three, Burnley scramble away Elneny’s head chance. Three decent efforts so far. This qualifies as a good start to the match. Just need a goal!
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Burnley now looking to slow the tempo, onus is on the Arsenal CBs and CMs to keep it ticking over,
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60 odd secs for Hart on the goal kick?
Not even twelve minutes gone?
Does the official know what his job is?
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TBF haven’t noticed the rep. in the middle.
So far.
As it should be.
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It was coming.
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Jingle balls!
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Good lad
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Aubameyanggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg, Ozil made it even if he wasn’t the one with the assist
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Streaky but wtf
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brilliant play by Ozil in the build up to that goal by PEA
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Ian.
That’s a good finish from Auba!
*Insert banned emoiji if the censors would allow it*
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Looking at it again it was deliberate from PEA
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Nice movement and touches from AMN too eds.
I’m speculating that with completion in CM it won’t be too long before the coach-player Stephan Lichtsteiner will be more of a coach then second choice RB.
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I’m happy for Rambo not to be overplayed and am not distraught he isn’t a starter today.
Same as with the returning Özil last Wednesday?
A modern manager who isn’t a prized idiot listening to his physios as opposed to arguing with them in court? Blimey.
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for fucks sake commentators not happy that burnley player got booked for having sokratis in a headlock,
Monreal off injured, Lichtsteiner on
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ah never mind, I just realized that the co-commentator is that bollocks stewart robson, what a gobshite
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sokratis now booked for hauling down barnes
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Sokratis got away with those against Kane running towards the opponents goal, in their half, but can’t expect mr.friend to ignore that one running backwards in his own half. Even though he is relatively friendly and dare we say it professional we also know that he is not biased. And he remains in control of his football match. Like some kind of Professional. His unbiased record indicates that he is not my but our friend.
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that should have been a booking for bardsley
burnley have fouled ozil a lot this half
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A second would be nice especially when Burnley throw on some subs and test the keeper who is still new to the PL but I’ll be happy with a 1-0 to the arsenal.
Clean sheet would be a big boost for the upcoming fixtures,
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HT: Arsenal 1-0 Burnley
Aubameyang with our goal, we lead at half time for the first time in the BPL this season.
A half we dominated for long period, but as it got scrappy Burnley have got forward more. Ozil has been fouled a lot in that half.
If we score the next goal we could get a few
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