@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 
So the opposition players and coaches see Özil as a threat but Billy the big blagger isn’t sure.
Then again when you have the record of these blaggers should we expect anything less?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, we go in ahead! COYG!
LikeLiked by 3 people
I’ll give that a 6.5 – good in patches but 1-0 won’t steady my loudly beating heart
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lot of pointless running in the midfield especially by elneny and gondouzi. Zhaka and torreiea needed urgently.
But glad we lead first half.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dean
@ArsenalNexus
10m10 minutes ago
Fun costituita fact.
Ben Mee is the great Grandson of former Arsenal Manager, Bertram “Bertie” Mee.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Great save from Leno on that early chance for Burnley.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is not as comfortable as I would like.
LikeLiked by 2 people
P™
@Cechque
36m36 minutes ago
Kolasinac wasn’t even in the picture when Ozil made the pass.
This is the vision of Ozil.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Merry Christmas!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Bama-lama-ding-dong
LikeLiked by 1 person
what a fucking goal, aubameyang nearly takes the net off with that strike, kolasinac with a great run down the left, plays it to lacazette who lays it in to pea who gives hart no chance 2-0
LikeLiked by 1 person
Really determined to get a red card aren’t you Ashley ?
LikeLiked by 1 person
nasty by barnes and ref lets him off with it, disgraceful he should have been off there
LikeLiked by 1 person
Auba with a fractional deflection off the opponent’s shin this time.
Özil tracking back into his own pelanty box and helping his colleague to win the tackle and set up the counter attack. Blimey, he’s never done that before. Save for Germany at the WC, last season, etc.
LikeLiked by 1 person
is Friend trying to keep burnley in this game
LikeLiked by 1 person
Think it was a well disguised knee in the back Eds.
Yellow for the foul on the keeper would strongly indicate the official who remains in control of this match whilst not really being noticed does indeed understand his job! And knows how to be, whisper it, professional.
After the stand up boyz one after the other and a sequence of clogging, we’ve exhausted the “circle of trust” and it’s our friend Mr.Friend!
Should’ve put a bet on…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Torriera is on for Elneny
LikeLike
mee booked, cork should have been booked too
LikeLiked by 1 person
maybe cork has been too
LikeLike
Just looking up the odds of our friend sending off Barnes now!
Good test for Matteo to see this out on a yellow now. Torreira on for Elneny.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Burnley need a few of the refs yellow and red Xmas cards.
LikeLike
Auba earning a foul where more recent officials would’ve listened to their earpiece and played Arsenal the “advantage”, as seen in recent games when the circle were unleashed.
LikeLiked by 1 person
He’ll take Barnes off if he has any sense
LikeLiked by 1 person
Bastard
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah Lacazette with a heavy pass on the counter.
Nearly.
LikeLike
crapping defending and barnes who should be off has scored, we had at least 3 chances to clear but took too long and it fell to barnes to fire home, poor stuff.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Think I am behind the clock!
Harder to close out these games without a Welbeck or Giroud to defend these set plays.
Almost a third for the gunners. Gunners looking dangerous on the break. Burnely with an incentive to attack. I will definitely enjoy this match if the Arsenal win. Heh.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yet again punished by a player who shouldn’t even be on the pitch.
Barnes is today’s PGMOL protected species
LikeLiked by 1 person
Top top corner move there – must have taken hours of fucking practice
LikeLiked by 2 people
that is one set of stupid play at that corner, we ended go right back to our keeper
LikeLiked by 1 person
Cork unmarked on the edge of the box sweeeeeps over ffs
LikeLike
good god how did we give cork so much free space there on edge of our area
LikeLike
JB@gunnerpunner
30s31 seconds ago
The ref has allowed this deterioration. Burnley flying into everything because they’re being allowed to.
LikeLike
phew, lucky that wasnt a foul on Xhaka, wouldnt want Burnley to go in the book, wouldnt be fair to football.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t understand going back to the keeper from half way line just for him to thump it to the half way line to be contested, is it not better to lump it forward to be contested near their goal
LikeLike
we are inviting pressure on ourselves with all this backways play
LikeLike
Matteo in the wars today.
Özil closing down the opponent as he hoofs it into touch under pressure. Crikeyhehasneverdonethatbefore. Pleaseclickonmyblogihavepuppiestofeed.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Iwobi on for the impressive Lacazette
LikeLiked by 1 person
Important ten minutes for Iwobi to help close out the game.
Ramsey kept fresh for Brighton.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lava going full Sanchez
LikeLike
You know what I mean
LikeLike
going back to leno just to give them the ball, its nonsense
LikeLike
Good work from Leno there 45 seconds eaten up
LikeLiked by 1 person
5 minutes of stoppage time to be played
LikeLiked by 1 person
Come on you Gunners finish this game off.
LikeLiked by 1 person
iwobiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii after a great run by ozil the ball fell to iwobi who fires home
LikeLiked by 1 person
thanks Arsenal. Merry Christmas!
LikeLike
The Wob!!!!!!!!!!
Good substitution one could say
LikeLiked by 1 person
5th yellow for burnley, it really should have been 10
LikeLike
Majestic from Özil these past five minutes, the ninetieth to the ninety fifth minutes. almost like the physios and coaches resting him in the unimportant game midweek knew what they were doing?
Iwobi helps bump up the GD and that finish will help him regain his better form and touch. A clean sheet with only one CB available would’ve been a great achievement, but three points will do for me!
LikeLike