{"id":3951,"date":"2021-09-17T14:48:06","date_gmt":"2021-09-17T13:48:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/?p=3951"},"modified":"2021-09-19T14:47:25","modified_gmt":"2021-09-19T13:47:25","slug":"roll-the-dice-and-dyche-too-please-but-watch-their-set-pieces","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/?p=3951","title":{"rendered":"Roll the dice (and Dyche too, please) but watch their set pieces"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<a id=\"aXUlW6joQB9abpmmbY0spw\" class=\"gie-single\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gettyimages.co.uk\/detail\/1203727048\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"color:#a7a7a7;text-decoration:none;font-weight:normal !important;border:none;display:inline-block;\" rel=\"noopener\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'aXUlW6joQB9abpmmbY0spw',sig:'QhPKFLBqRGd-Kapynts-JK4-dR4EN1HTlP9drQIDShI=',w:'594px',h:'325px',items:'1203727048',caption: true ,tld:'co.uk',is360: false })});<\/script><script src=\"\/\/embed-cdn.gettyimages.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\" async=\"\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<p>Arsenal\u2019s old faces surround a Burnley player at Turf Moor in February 2020<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To say that Arsenal are a club and a team in transition these days is about the most definitive thing you can say about them.&nbsp;&nbsp;That is why I chose the particular photo I chose for this piece.&nbsp;&nbsp;It was only a couple of seasons ago when all of those faces featured prominently from week to week in the Arsenal team.&nbsp;&nbsp;But not one of those players now remains a fixture in this Arsenal team.&nbsp;&nbsp;True, one or two of them may still be out on loan, or still with the club in the case of a few others, but the turnover we have seen in key personnel since Mikel Arteta was appointed head coach is head-spinning, to say the least.&nbsp;&nbsp;Realistically, of the pictured outfield players from 19 months ago, and with Lacazette having turned 30 near the end of last season, only Martinelli can still be considered a potentially important player in Arsenal\u2019s medium- or long-term future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But to focus on the matter at hand, Turf Moor will be the venue of this fifth fixture of Arsenal\u2019s young season.&nbsp;&nbsp;Considering the post-interlull period only, following our opening trifecta of defeats, Arsenal play only their second match with a reunited group of players aiming to reset their season onto a more stable course.&nbsp;&nbsp;Having just managed to coax a magic three points out of last Saturday\u2019s home match against rock-bottom Norwich City, Arsenal at least come into this match knowing they have won and scored a (solitary) goal in the league this season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Arsenal XI<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This Summer Arsenal spent a reported&nbsp;\u00a3140 in transfer fees on new signings including Ramsdale, White, Sambi, Tavares, Tomi and Odegaard, so Mikel Arteta will be tempted to give all of them minutes to figure out how they can best help improve the team.&nbsp;&nbsp;But the way he used the new players last Saturday provides some clue going forward.&nbsp; Against Norwich Arteta opted for a back four of Tierney, Gabriel, White and Tomi.&nbsp;&nbsp;But this weekend the Gunners will likely face a much more physical battle so Arteta could shift his formation to include an extra centre-back.&nbsp;&nbsp;If that is the case the flexible Tomi could shift over one spot to help with the high balls Burnley can be expected to launch into the area.&nbsp;&nbsp;Another player of considerable flexibility, AMN, could move into a right wing-back spot in front of Saka, who could be alternating wings with Smith Rowe either side of playmaker Odegaard.&nbsp;&nbsp;We should expect our Gabonese talisman to take his spot up top as the lone striker and wing-back Tierney to cover the flank and provide an array of crosses on the left.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Also in contention for a midfield berth is Sambi Lokonga, and Nicolas Pepe could be a useful attack-minded substitute if we need a late goal or two.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Ramsdale<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Tomi&nbsp;&nbsp;White&nbsp;&nbsp;Gabriel<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">AMN&nbsp;&nbsp;Thomas&nbsp;&nbsp;Tierney<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Saka&nbsp;&nbsp;Odegaard&nbsp;&nbsp;Smith Rowe<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Aubameyang<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The opposition<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Burnley last played on Monday evening against Everton so the Gunners will try to take advantage of their two extra days rest since playing Norwich on Saturday.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Clarets\u2019 defence at Everton, which looked strong enough until halftime, suffered a collective second half collapse when the Toffees suddenly became an attacking juggernaut with three goals in six minutes shortly after Burnley took a 1-0 lead.&nbsp;&nbsp;So the open question now is, Will Arsenal be able to exploit the Clarets\u2019 defensive frailties as effectively as the Toffees were able to do?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If there\u2019s any remaining doubt about what sort of match Arsenal can expect, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp gave some indication after his club\u2019s August game against Burnley when he observed: \u201cIf you like that sort of thing, watch wrestling.\u201d&nbsp;&nbsp;Somewhat worryingly, as it should be for the more reasonable folk among us, Sean Dyche responded to Klopp\u2019s wrestling comment by pointing out that Mike Dean \u201cdidn\u2019t book anyone. So it is quite bizarre \u2026 how [Klopp] could suggest there were some untoward challenges.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The referees neglected to give Burnley a single red card last season, in contrast to the five (5) red cards they awarded to Arsenal.&nbsp;&nbsp;So far this season they have already given Arsenal one red card (Xhaka at Manchester City) in four games played while they have again given Burnley the sum total of zero despite Tarkowski\u2019s red card-worthy challenge on Richarlison last week.&nbsp;&nbsp;Let\u2019s hope they choose Turf Moor as the site to begin rectifying their wrongs.&nbsp;&nbsp;Anthony Taylor will referee the match, and Lee Mason will be the all-knowing VAR official.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Clarets are sniffing and snorting to find a path toward a better start than last season when they managed to win only one of their opening 10 Premier League games before improving thereafter to avoid relegation, and finishing in 17th position.&nbsp;&nbsp;To this point the Clarets have made another slow start on their sixth season in the top flight with Sean Dyche at the helm.&nbsp;&nbsp;They suffered a home defeat to Brighton and an away defeat at Liverpool before tallying their only point in a home draw with Leeds and then slipping again in the away defeat at Everton.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Burnley have managed to improve on Arsenal\u2019s attacking frailty so far, with three goals to their credit&nbsp;(Tarkowski header against Brighton, Wood rebound strike against Leeds and Mee header at Everton). &nbsp;But the Clarets are joint next to last in the table, and one of only four clubs, along with Leeds, Newcastle and Norwich, with a points total lower than Arsenal.&nbsp;&nbsp;It doesn\u2019t do much to reassure me that this game will be straightforward but Burnley have won just four of their last 23 league games, having drawn six and lost the rest.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The \u2018holic pound<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Arsenal\u2019s defenders will certainly need to keep an eye on Chris Wood, who has been involved in 12 of Burnley&#8217;s last 17 league goals, with nine goals and three assists, and is likely to score Burnley\u2019s only goal. Did I mention that we should watch out for their set pieces? If we do a reasonable job on those Burnley is not likely to score more than the one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Optimism must be running high in the Arsenal side, with all the new faces contributing to the cause and the chance to go on an actual winning streak, there can be no thinking about a draw or a loss.&nbsp;&nbsp;I\u2019m predicting Burnley 1-3 Arsenal, with a grinning Gabonese and a downbeat Dyche walking off the Turf Moor pitch at the end of this one.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Enjoy every moment you can, \u2018holics.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Embed from Getty Images Arsenal\u2019s old faces surround a Burnley player at Turf Moor in February 2020 To say that Arsenal are a club and a team in transition these days is about the most definitive thing you can say about them.&nbsp;&nbsp;That is why I chose the particular photo I chose for this piece.&nbsp;&nbsp;It was [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"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\/3951"}],"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\/12"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3951"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3951\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3966,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3951\/revisions\/3966"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3951"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3951"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3951"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}