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Arsenal vs Burnley: 22/12/2018 – match preview and predicted starting XIs

Arsenal vs Burnley

Date: 22/12/2018

K/O: 12.30

Venue: The Emirates

TV: Sky Sports

Referee: Kevin Friend

Unai Emery’s injury-ridden Arsenal welcome Burnley for the latest instalment in the Premier League’s hectic festive schedule.

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Emery could have as many as eight players out for this match as he looks to get his side back to winning ways. He had seen Arsenal go 23 matches unbeaten but his team have lost their last two games; in the league at Southampton and away at Spurs in the League Cup. If Arsenal were to lose against Burnley it would make finishing in the top four an almost impossible task.

Sean Dyche has been buoyed by his side’s recent performances. They may still be in the relegation zone but they are starting to look more like the Burnley we knew last season. They have put in some solid defensive displays recently and only just lost to Spurs in their last match thanks to a last-minute Christian Eriksen winner.

Arsenal need to win keep pressure on Chelsea. They won’t be able to break into the top four this time around but could see themselves draw level on points with Chelsea if they were to win and the Blues lose to Leicester. Burnley, on the other hand, are only in the bottom three on goal difference currently and a win could see them climb above the dotted line.

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Team News

Arsenal are going through something of an injury crisis at the moment, most notably in the defence. Their current list of sidelined players include: Hector Bellerin, Rob Holding, Sead Kolasinac, Konstantinos Mavropanos, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Shkrodan Mustafi and Danny Welbeck. 

Emery will be forced to play a makeshift defence of most probably Nacho Monreal, Sokratis and Xhaka. Whilst more comfortable as a defensive midfielder, Emery will have no choice but to put Xhaka into his back three.

Kolasinac is being assessed for fitness and there is a chance he will play. Emery may have to risk bringing him back slightly earlier than anticipated just so they have some bodies on the pitch.

Up the other end of the pitch, Aubameyang will be looking to add to his goal tally against a Burnley defence which has been notoriously porous this season. The striker is currently the league’s second highest goalscorer behind Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah.

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Alexandre Lacazette has not found his feet quite so well so far this season. The Frenchman has been in out of the team thanks largely to inconsistent performances and a lack of goals. If he is to play on Saturday it would be wise to prove to Emery that he is an integral member of his attacking line up.

For Burnley the only worrying news is that Aaron Lennon underwent knee surgery in the week. It is unknown when he will return but this will be a big blow to Sean Dyche.

However, the likes of Robbie Brady, Steven Defour and Gudmundsson are all in contention to make their comeback.

Predicted Starting XIs

Arsenal: Leno; Monreal, Sokratis, Xhaka; Lichsteiner, Torreira, Guendouzi, Kolasinac; Iwobi, Aubameyang; Lacazette.

Burnley: Hart; Bardsley, Tarkowski, Mee, Taylor; Gudmundsson, Westwood, Cork, Brady; Hendrick; Barnes.

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Prediction: Arsenal 2 Burnley 1

I can’t imagine this being one for the history books but I think despite their injuries Arsenal will get the better of Burnley. Dyche should look at how Southampton managed to beat the Gunners last time around if he wants a chance of winning. However, Arsenal have a habit of shooting themselves in the foot so if the stars align Burnley may be handed the win on a platter.

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