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Photo from Freepik
Morning guys.
The League Cup tie with Brighton, with its 10 changes, wide open spaces and end to end attacks, was frighteningly exciting. It was different, it was the League Cup, it was a chance to see some youngsters and new players we’d not seen much of before. However, yesterday it was back to grown-up football, it was take no prisoners football and it was back to business as usual.
Arteta unsurprisingly reverted to his, on paper, strongest available starting XI for the trip to Turf Moor, the same Arsenal team which had gone unbeaten and conceded zero goals in a calendar month. The Gunners team which was gradually breaking the spirit of all the media Arsenal haters. Martinelli was absent, for how long we don’t know, but Big Bill was back to partner Big Gabby. The bench was strong but lacking somewhat in an attacking sense, we badly need Havertz, Martinelli, Madueke and Jesus back in the mix and hopefully we’ll have three of them plus captain Odegaard back after the next International break.
During the opening exchanges Burnley pressed energetically and played an almost mid block high line, at times pushing us back into our half but as soon as they lost possession they fell back into a style quite similar to how Arsenal play. Arsenal’s approach play looked slick and incisive but the Burnley defence held firm, that is until Arsenal were awarded a corner. Then it was mayhem Arsenal style. Rice chipped to the far post as all the big guys went up but the ball evaded them all except Big Gabby. The King was lurking beyond the far post and simply lobbed the ball back into the mix and Gyokeres headed home. From then on it was a case of how many?
Trossard, Calafiori, Saka, Eze, Saka again and Trossard again all went close, Burnley at times were hanging on grimly as chance after chance came and went. Then finally around the 35th minute Burnley exerted some pressure but the move broke down, Gyokeres broke clear and played a fantastic cross field pass to Trossard who drove for the Burnley box before chipping an inviting cross into the middle. Declan Rice arrived and powered his header into the goal and it was pretty much job done. Arsenal just played out the remaining 10 minutes in total control and so H/T 0-2.
Viktor Gyokeres went off at half-time, hopefully it was just precautionary but if there’s any doubt then I hope he stays in London on Tuesday and misses the trip to Praha.
Merino came on and Arsenal’s dynamic approach became one of more possession and control. On 49 Timber almost got in to score from the inside-‘left’ and on 56 Trossard got off a low skidding shot which the Burnley keeper did well to save. Burnley upped the pressure and it was difficult at times but our defence is just the best. On 72 Arteta brought on Hincapie (Calafiori) and Nwaneri (Eze), Ethan immediately gave us some pace up front when he burst forward as Merino was not stretching the opposition, Hincapie just shut down any threat from his side. On 77 Nordgaard came on for Zubimendi as Arteta rotated and saved the legs of those who’d played the most minutes recently. On 82 Nwaneri won the ball just inside the Arsenal half and sprinted forward intent on getting off a shot and it was low and true but unfortunately just wide.
As the game went into added time Myles came on for Trossard who’d had an interesting battle all afternoon with anyone who fancied it. On 92 Nordgaard had a low shot parried and then Timber went close again before Burnley hit the post to almost ruin our record. Rice was amazing, he was perpetual motion, Gyokeres had his best half since he arrived, I hope he’s ok. Trossard, Eze, Timber, all of them were superb.
And so we march on….
**By Kev**