{"id":1975,"date":"2020-12-12T12:54:42","date_gmt":"2020-12-12T12:54:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/?p=1975"},"modified":"2020-12-13T22:53:46","modified_gmt":"2020-12-13T22:53:46","slug":"boot-the-ball-in-the-burnley-net","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/?p=1975","title":{"rendered":"Boot the Ball in the Burnley Net"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Another Sunday, another crunch game for The Arsenal. In fact, this will probably be the shortest preview I ever write as any Gooners not aware of our current situation really need to be paying more attention. Straight to the game then, and we welcome, in the widest sense of the word, Burnley to The Arsenal for a game that must be won if we are to bring at least temporary relief from the endless analyses of why oh why has our team gone wrong. My own opinion on that particular conundrum is reflected in the title of this piece, as despite the bewildering array of possible formations, tactics, strategies, knick-knacks and whatnots I believe football remains a simple game and Billy Ockham and his razor are remembered for good reason. To quote Mikel Arteta:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cat the end of the day we haven\u2019t scored enough goals and without doing that, we cannot win enough football matches. It is as simple as that\u201d. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

To summarize my own thoughts: I don\u2019t care how or who lads, just get it done. I realize others may have more thoughtful and equally valid views on the issues that beset us currently but that is my own. Forward we go then for a quick dismissal of the opposition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Burnley<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We could hardly pick better opponents for this game. They have won 1 game in 10 this season, sit 18th<\/sup> in the table and have only scored 5 goals all season. They have a few players out, much like us, but in truth whoever starts won\u2019t change how Burnley play. No doubt they will try hard, defend stoutly, foul in rotation and generally cheat whilst portraying themselves as old school salt of the earth-type honest fellows much like their manager, the absurd Dyche. We know they are nothing of the sort and we must help them on their way out of the PL with the sort of drubbing their hypocrisy, an only child of mendacity and mediocrity, so richly deserves. Harsh some may feel (actually I pulled my punches, you know, think of the kids), but I did say the welcome was in the widest sense of the word.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Arsenal XI<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you may suspect by now I mostly don\u2019t care which XI Mikel starts given the current situation. If our forwards regain their confidence in front of goal it won\u2019t matter and if they don\u2019t it will be another grim afternoon. I say mostly because, personally, I would certainly keep faith with Auba and Gabriel plus Leno, who now has no serious competitor for his place, but I don\u2019t believe any of the other regular starters could complain if they were dropped after the recent run of weekend results. Of course from a wider perspective I hope MA will continue to develop our youngsters and transition to a more attacking style but this particular game is all about the short-term requirements of simply winning a home game. For what it\u2019s worth, I expect a similar XI to last week\u2019s game. There is an argument to be made for going with three centre-backs to counter Burnley\u2019s set piece threat (except it\u2019s five goals all season folks) but I hope Mikel will continue with a back four and the extra attacking threat it is rumoured to provide. Thomas\u2019s unfortunate thigh will be an enforced change leaving us with the XI below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leno<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bellerin, Holding, Gabriel, Tierney<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Xhaka, Ceballos<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Willian, Lacazette, Saka<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aubameyang<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is it the XI I would pick? No it isn\u2019t. I have varying degrees of sympathy with those who believe AMN, Elneny, Joe W, Eddie, ESR, Cedric or even Mustafi should start, I just don\u2019t think MA will go that way. Joe W or Eddie are perhaps the most likely changes or possibly some tinkering with the CB partnership, anyway we will see as Mikel may surprise us yet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Holic Pound<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whilst this preview contains little of the cheerful, very well-thought out optimism that is so resonant with this fine establishment, I simply cannot bring myself to predict anything other than a heartening win for The Arsenal. 4-0 seems well priced to me at 25s, and I look forward to seeing Mr Aubameyang, at a simply ludicrous 10\/3, back on the score-sheet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I hope those lucky enough to be going will enjoy a fine afternoon\u2019s entertainment – and will support the team with their usual enthusiasm, especially during what may be a tense first 15 minutes \u2013 and that their, and our, day will culminate in the sweet joy of victory.Good luck to us all and COYGS!!!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Another Sunday, another crunch game for The Arsenal. In fact, this will probably be the shortest preview I ever write as any Gooners not aware of our current situation really need to be paying more attention. Straight to the game then, and we welcome, in the widest sense of the word, Burnley to The Arsenal […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[5],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1975"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1975"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1975\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1977,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1975\/revisions\/1977"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1975"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1975"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1975"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}