Arsenal 3-1 Burnley: Good enough …

Match report – Player ratings – Arteta reaction – Video

At instances it felt prefer it was going to be a kind of irritating days. A workforce that got here to take a seat deep and defend did that fairly effectively for a lot of the first half. I wasn’t positive if that was how Burnley would method this, however you’ll be able to perceive why they did. It was extra a case of whether or not or not they’d have the ability to stick with it, and I feel we noticed indicators in the direction of the tip of the primary interval that there have been just a few cracks of their focus.

We had come shut a few instances. Bukayo Saka’s instantaneous right-footed shot from contained in the field appeared for all of the world prefer it was going to hit the highest nook, however James Trafford made a completely excellent save to disclaim him. The most effective you’ll see all season, truthfully. He additionally stood up effectively to a Leandro Trossard effort, and there was an opportunity for Kai Havertz who headed over when he ought to have performed higher.

On the different finish a slight mistake from William Saliba introduced Burnley with a wonderful alternative to open the scoring, however very similar to his reverse quantity, David Raya made an excellent save to disclaim Johann Gudmundsson. That was a giant second, I don’t assume I’d have fancied an hour in opposition to a workforce scrapping to carry a one aim lead.

As I stated although, I feel they discovered the going powerful, as a result of this sitting deep stuff isn’t actually what they do. Clearly they doubled up on Saka and Martinelli, however doing which means another person can discover area, and that’s how the opening aim arrived. Martinelli had two gamers to take care of so he rolled it again to Oleksandr Zinchenko who despatched in a hopeful cross. It was one which Saka attacked and headed on in the direction of Trossard, who was courageous to nod it house on the close to publish.

The Belgian was damage within the course of, taking a whack to the forearm – which is a disgrace as a result of that may certainly inhibit him with regards to clobbering opposition gamers within the head with out censure – however that connection between him and Saka is actually fairly one thing. All six of his targets this season, and the one aim he scored final season, have come from Saka assists.

There have been indicators of life early within the second half from Burnley, and within the 54th minute they had been degree. It was six of 1, half a dozen of the opposite between Tomiyasu and Koleosho within the build-up, and our man got here off the fallacious finish of it. We did get the cross clear however the shot from Josh Brownhill hit Gabriel’s heel and wrong-footed Raya. 1-1. Not splendid.

Nevertheless, the short response was. We had loads of corners on this sport, and when Trossard curled it in, Saliba simply posted himself in entrance of the goalkeeper, headed house from shut vary, and we had been again in entrance. Mikel Arteta made a change virtually right away, taking off Havertz and placing on Fabio Vieira, in search of one thing extra from the Portuguese than he obtained from the German. Leaping forward – there was extra, however none of it was good.

Vieira was no higher than Havertz when it comes to efficiency, which displays poorly on each of them, however he then picked up a straight purple card, leaving us to play the ultimate 10 minutes plus harm time a person gentle. It’s a silly problem, studs excessive on the knee, and he can haven’t any complaints. I don’t know what he was pondering, maybe he was crotchety having taking a little bit of a clatter to the top a few minutes earlier, but it surely was daft and he deserved to be despatched off.

Fortunately, there was daylight within the scoreline at that time, after Zinchenko had scored a fairly sensational aim to make it 3-1. When a nook was headed onto the Burnley bar, it was headed out in the direction of the sting of the field. He didn’t have time to take a contact, as an alternative he jumped – channeling his interior Danny LaRusso  – and guided it completely into the highest nook. What a end.

There wasn’t way more to it than that. Even with 10 males we appeared comfy on the again, and Burnley supplied little menace. Nor did we appear like including to the scoreline, and on the stability of play, 3-1 was comfy sufficient. Afterwards, Mikel Arteta stated:

I’m actually pleased with the outcome, particularly with the efficiency after enjoying 72 hours in the past, with the final three video games, how we performed in opposition to Newcastle, how we performed in opposition to Sevilla, how we performed at this time, how dominant we had been in opposition to groups who’re very laborious to dominant the quantity of conditions that we dominated, I feel we absolutely deserved to win the sport.

He was a bit sarcastic concerning the purple card, however that’s truthful sufficient actually. I feel he simply wished to make it a non-talking level, as a result of he knew it was silly. His face on the bench as Vieira walked off instructed you a lot about what he thought of it.

One factor that was noticeable was how, within the second half, we had been so tilted to the left hand facet in possession. Saka was barely within the sport after the break, and I don’t know if that was a acutely aware determination, or if it’s only a consequence of getting extra connectivity on the left. Rice, though new, glues issues collectively on that facet due to simply how concerned he’s always, whereas Zinchenko and Martinelli clearly know one another effectively. On the precise, the Tomiyasu, Havertz/Vieira, Saka triangle wasn’t actually functioning in the identical means.

Clearly we miss Martin Odegaard, and hopefully he’ll be again after the Interlull, however I can’t actually keep in mind that form of imbalance in our possession earlier than. It would simply have been a quirk of this sport, however maybe one thing to maintain a watch – particularly as Arteta did talk pre-game concerning the relationships in sure areas of the pitch. I additionally assume conversations about our efficiency ranges this season need to take note of the gamers we’re lacking, and the truth that guys like Havertz and Vieira – whose roles proper now necessitate them to ship when others are lacking – simply aren’t doing that. In that context, a 3-1 win is to not be sniffed at, however I’m positive Mikel Arteta shall be searching for enchancment as a lot as anybody.

Past that, a fast point out for Wolves who got here from behind to beat that lot with two harm time targets. I used to be watching this, and it was very, very humorous. Thanks Gary O’Neil, and it’s truthful to say that after being diddled by VAR two weeks in a row, they deserved one thing like this. And on the expense of Mate FC, all the higher.

Okay, let’s depart it there for this morning. Have an important Sunday of us, again with extra tomorrow and an Arsecast Additional. Till then.