Arsenal 3 Burnley 1
Mikel Arteta welcomed his old friend Vincent Kompany to The Emirates with the Arsenal manager looking to get back to winning ways after his side suffered their first defeat of the season. Rumours have it the Spaniard is still prank calling Stockley Park saying ‘embarrassing’ and hanging up.
Burnley have been looking more out of their depth in the Premier League than a first-time swimmer who has decided to have their debut dip in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Fortunately, with only ten games gone in the season, there is still time to rectify this.
Amdouni was to have the first shot of the game as his effort from outside the box forced Raya to tip the ball around the post. It was the sort of start Kompany had been hoping for, taking the game to the opposition for once.
Saka looked to open the scoring for The Gunners but his well struck effort was tipped onto the bar by Trafford to frustrate the England winger. He was causing problems for the visitors early on as he looked to lead by example for Arsenal.
Credit: @Arsenal
The Clarets were having some joy on the counter-attack and Gudmundsson got in front of the defender to get a left-footed shot away but Raya got down well to save and prevent the visitors taking an unexpected lead.
For all the money they spent in the summer, Arsenal’s back line still bears an uncanny resemblance to the world Monopoly championships………you’re gonna see a lot of chances given out. If they really want to mount a serious title challenge, they need to sort that out.
As Burnley gave the ball away in a dangerous area, Rice ran forward with purpose, finally working it to Trossard. He cut inside and got a shot away from the edge of the box but Trafford did well to put it over the bar.
The Belgian did not have to wait long to find the net as Saka won a header and he beat Trafford to the ball at the back post, to bundle it over the line for Arsenal’s 1000th goal at The Emirates. It came at a cost as the player collided with the post in the process.
Burnley got a well-deserved goal in the second-half as Koleosho got to the byline and as the ball rebounded away from goal, skipper Brownhill struck a shot that took a deflection past the hapless Raya in the Arsenal goal. It silenced The Emirates as the away end celebrated.
Martinelli had the chance to give The Gunners the lead again but as he cut in from the left, he shot straight at Trafford. Fortunately for the home fans, Saliba met the resulting corner and headed into the net to restore the lead for Arteta’s side.
Credit: @Arsenal
Set pieces were to be the undoing of Vincent Kompany’s side yet again as firstly the ball thundered back off the crossbar as a Burnley player headed the corner towards his own goal before Zinchenko neatly volleyed the follow up into the top corner.
Fabio Viera was sent off late on in the game as he went in high on Brownhill, with no arguments from the Arsenal manager on his player getting their marching orders. The Gunners were to hold on for all three points which is all that Arteta craved for.
In the post-match interview, The Gunners’ manager even prompted to be asked about VAR. In a joking manner he said ‘it was perfect, the referee, the VAR….it was perfect. So don’t just ask me when you know I am going to say something, let’s have some humour.’
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