Posted by The Team
Arsenal started in the usual 4-2-3-1, with Reiss Nelson rather than Henrikh Mkhitaryan preferred on the left. Joe Willock moved from the #10 he played last week to the #8 alongside Matteo Guendouzi in the absence of Granit Xhaka, who missed through injury.
Nicolas Pépé came on to start the second half, with Arsenal staying in a 4-2-3-1 until Kolasinac’s 71st minute substitution altered the team to a back three.
We got to see 26 minutes of Lacazette, Aubameyang, and Pépé together.
Substitutions
Nicolas Pépé ➡️ (45′) ⬅️ Reiss Nelson
Sead Kolasinac ➡️ (71′) ⬅️ Alexandre Lacazette
Lucas Torreira ➡️ (83′) ⬅️ Dani Ceballos
| First Half | ||||
| Time | Primary Player | Attack/Defense | Formation | Score |
| 1:09 | Willock | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 0-0 |
| Maitland-Niles plays the ball up the right to Aubameyang, whose passes it a bit loose infield to Willock (+1) and nearly has it intercepted. Willock does well to read the bounce, recovering the ball and beating the CM to open play up to the left. | ||||
| 1:25 | Ceballos | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 0-0 |
| Ceballos (+1) sprays the ball into Aubameyang, whose first-time cross to the penalty spot is cleared. | ||||
| 2:02 | Guendouzi | Defense | 4-2-3-1 | 0-0 |
| A 50/50 ball is headed out to the left, and three Arsenal players switch off. Guendouzi (-1) takes two steps towards the ball before realizing belatedly that Guðmundsson is running behind and can’t recover in time. The ball is played to him for the cross, but Maitland-Niles (+1) wins the ball out of the air to clear. | ||||
| 4:19 | Monreal | Transition | 4-2-3-1 | 0-0 |
| Monreal (+1) beats his man to the ball, playing it to Ceballos before taking a foul. Advantage. Ceballos passes to Willock, who carries the ball to the edge of the Burnely box, but his pass intended for Lacazette is blocked | ||||
| 4:51 | Ceballos | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 0-0 |
| Ceballos (+1) passes into Nelson, who lays it back off for Ceballos to shoot wide. | ||||
| 6:09 | Nelson | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 0-0 |
| Nelson (+1) scoops a pass to Lacazette in the box, but he can’t sort his feet out and the ball rolls harmlessly to the GK. | ||||
| 7:03 | Maitland-Niles | Transition | 4-2-3-1 | 0-0 |
| Maitland-Niles throws into Aubameyang, whose pass back is cut out by Burnley. Willock (+1) does well to clean up. | ||||
| 7:59 | Luiz | Defense | 4-2-3-1 | 0-0 |
| The first of many long bals intended for Wood is read well by Luiz (+1), who steps in front, wins the ball, and plays to Maitland-Niles, who’s fouled. | ||||
| 8:45 | Luiz | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 0-0 |
| Luiz (+2) plays a 60 yard pass into the path of Aubameyang (-0.5). His touch is heavy and the ball is knocked out for a corner. | ||||
| 9:29 | Ceballos | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 0-0 |
| Ceballos (+1) plays in a terrific corner, flicked on by Lacazette, then off the Burnley defender for another corner kick. | ||||
| 11:20 | Lacazette | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 0-0 |
| Ceballos free kick is cleared, but Sokratis (+1) heads back into Lacazette (+1), who’s timed his run well and gets a head onto it. Saved. Corner. | ||||
| 11:55 | Lacazette | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 0-0 |
| Ceballos plays the corner into the near post. Monreal misses the flick, but Lacazette (+3) doesn’t. He turns the defender who’s draped all over him, then shoots as he’s falling and nutmegs the GK. 1-0 to the Arsenal. | ||||
| 13:07 | Maitland-Niles | Defense | 4-2-3-1 | 1-0 |
| Camera comes back late with Willock on the floor; we don’t know why. The ball falls to Dwight McNeil who beats Maitland-Niles (-1) down the left to get a cross off, but it’s over everyone. | ||||
| 13:54 | Luiz | Defense | 4-2-3-1 | 1-0 |
| Sokratis (-1) misses the initial header off a long clearance from Nick Pope. Maitland-Niles (-1) fails to get goal side, allowing Ashley Barnes to get on the end of the bounce. Luiz (+1) comes over and does enough to put Wood off. | ||||
| 14:30 | Nelson | Transition | 4-2-3-1 | 1-0 |
| Burnley win the goal kick and work the ball down the right, but Nelson (+1) is alert and intercepts the attempted back pass after Ceballos (+1) and Monreal double team the ball. Nelson passes to Ceballos, who waits a beat, then switches to Maitland-Niles on the right. | ||||
| 15:49 | Nelson | Transition | 4-2-3-1 | 1-0 |
| Nelson (-1) holds onto the ball too long and loses it, fouling (?) his man in the process. The ensuing free kick bounces around to Westwood, who crosses into the box. Leno comes, but Luiz (+1) takes no chances and heads out for a corner. | ||||
| 17:03 | Leno | Defense | 4-2-3-1 | 1-0 |
| Leno (+2) saves Barnes’ point blank header, but offside anyways. | ||||
| 17:52 | Ceballos | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 1-0 |
| A neat dip of the shoulder creates space for Ceballos (+1) on the edge of his own box, and he’s fouled. | ||||
| 18:10 | Willock | Transition | 4-2-3-1 | 1-0 |
| Willock (-1/+1) plays Maitland-Niles (-1) into trouble, but does well to win the ball back. His second attempt makes it there only for Maitland-Niles to kick it right back to Pope. | ||||
| 19:08 | Sokratis | Defense | 4-2-3-1 | 1-0 |
| Guendouzi (-1) is outjumped at the back post, but Sokratis (+1) wins the second ball and knocks it out for a corner. | ||||
| 19:49 | Guendouzi | Defense | 4-2-3-1 | 1-0 |
| The corner is played right on top of Leno, with a scrum of players fighting for the ball. Guendouzi (+1) finally comes away with the ball and clears, but right to Mee. His cross is won by Burnley over the top of Sokratis (-1), but the ball rolls softly to Leno. | ||||
| 20:34 | Luiz | Defense | 4-2-3-1 | 1-0 |
| Burnley play a cross into Wood, but Luiz (+1) is alert and beats him to the spot. | ||||
| 22:12 | Ceballos | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 1-0 |
| Maitland-Niles and Ceballos (-1) attempt to combine on the right, but Ceballos touch is just to far. Burnley try to counter quickly into Wood, but Luiz (+1) steps in front and wins it back for Arsenal | ||||
| 22:44 | Willock | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 1-0 |
| Willock (+1) plays Maitland-Niles (+1) through on the right, but his cross is blocked out for a corner. | ||||
| 23:52 | Luiz | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 1-0 |
| This time Luiz’s (-1) long pass is won by Burnley. He does well to win the ball back, but hits it straight out of bounds after coming away with possession. DIfficult to make out who his intended target was. | ||||
| 24:25 | Nelson | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 1-0 |
| Nelson (-1) dawdles on the ball and loses it. | ||||
| 24:49 | Willock | Transition | 4-2-3-1 | 1-0 |
| Aubameyang’s pass is out of the reach of Ceballos, but Willock (-1) is able to latch onto it. For some reason he kicks it right into the Burnley defender. Luiz (+1) steps to block the ensuing shot, and Sokratis (+1) just about gets a head to the cross to knock out for a throw. | ||||
| 25:30 | Monreal | Transition | 4-2-3-1 | 1-0 |
| Burnley cross to the far side, but Monreal (+1) is there to win the ball not once, but twice. He scampers up the field and is played through by Ceballos (+1), but inches offside. | ||||
| 26:40 | Aubameyang | Defense | 4-2-3-1 | 1-0 |
| Burnley work the ball from left to right through a series of simple passes that shouldn’t confuse Arsenal. Somehow, they do: Guendouzi (-1) and Willock (-1) leave Westwood to run free on the playside, forcing Luiz to overshift to cover them. That results in Sokratis and Maitland-Niles also shifting, leaving McNeil free on the backside. This wouldn’t be a problem if Aubameyang (-1) tracks back. He doesn’t, and McNeil is free 1v1 with Leno on the backside. Thankfully he rushes his cross and Maitland-Niles clears for a corner. | ||||
| 27:26 | Luiz | Defense | 4-2-3-1 | 1-0 |
| Lacazette blocks the corner at the near post, but right to McNeil. He cuts Ceballos to ceate a window, shoots, and is blocked by Luiz (+1). | ||||
| 27:45 | Aubameyang | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 1-0 |
| Aubameyang (+1) carries the ball across midfield then accelerates down the right wing, beating his man and crossing. It’s blocked. | ||||
| 28:30 | Monreal | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 1-0 |
| Willock (+1) weights the ball perfectly over two defenders into Monreal’s (+1/-0.5) path. He drives to the endline then fakes the cross, sending Lowton sliding past. He delays a beat too long, then has his cross is blocked. Willock called for handball after it bounces up on him. | ||||
| 28:59 | Maitland-Niles | Transition | 4-2-3-1 | 1-0 |
| Burnley have a clear strategy, and it’s pretty annoying. Sokratis (-1) attempts to win the bomb, but misses and the ball bounces into a 50/50 between Maitland-Niles (+1) and Barnes. Despite giving up three inches, Maitland-Niles wins the it, heading it to Willock. His juggle clearance doesn’t make it far, but Ceballos (+1) undercuts his man and heads on to Lacazette to get Arsenal out. Ceballos with a bit of trickery at the end of the sequence to earn a foul. | ||||
| 29:58 | Lacazette | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 1-0 |
| Lacazette (-1) checks back to the ball but isn’t strong enough to hold off his man, who steps past him then falls over to win a soft foul on Maitland-Niles. | ||||
| 31:20 | Nelson | Defense | 4-2-3-1 | 1-0 |
| Burnley advance down the right wing, but Nelson (+1) does well to track Lowton’s overlap and knock the ball out for a corner. | ||||
| 31:55 | Leno | Defense | 4-2-3-1 | 1-0 |
| The corner is punched clear by Leno (+1). | ||||
| 32:21 | Ceballos | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 1-0 |
| Ceballos (+2) plays a pass 65 yards to Nelson that Pope has to leave his box to clear, but right to Willock. He drives into the box then slots back to Ceballos, whose quick feet take him to the edge of the six before he’s forced to lay off. Lacazette’s cross is a good enough idea, but Aubameyang has made his run inside and the ball sails harmlessly over him. | ||||
| 33:29 | Guendouzi | Defense | 4-2-3-1 | 1-0 |
| Consecutive 50/50 aerial duels are lost by Ceballos (-1), Maitland-Niles (-1), and Sokratis (-1) from Pope’s long goal kick, but Guendouzi (+1) recovers well to knock out of bounds. | ||||
| 33:52 | Guendouzi | Defense | 4-2-3-1 | 1-0 |
| Burnley try their luck on the left, but Guendouzi (+1) is too quick. | ||||
| 34:02 | Lacazette | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 1-0 |
| Lacazette’s (-1) hopeful ball to Nelson is headed back to Pope, but he elects to clear rather than collect and Monreal (+1) beats Barnes to the ball. He plays it to Nelson on his way to ground after being fouled. Advantage. Nelson (+1) beats Tarkowski (£45 million what?) to the left and unleashes a powerful shot right at Pope. Saved. | ||||
| 35:17 | Maitland-Niles | Defense | 4-2-3-1 | 1-0 |
| Guendouzi (-0.5) overplays the first ball but Maitland-Niles (+1/-1) gets a head to the second one. It falls to Ceballos (-1) who loses out to McNeil who Maitland-Niles fouls. The free kick is headed clear by Monreal (+1), but Aubameyang (-1) gives it right back to Burnley. | ||||
| 37:39 | Willock | Defense | 4-2-3-1 | 1-0 |
| Arsenal playing with fire. Burnley sends a free kick to the far side of the box where Guendouzi (-1) gets outjumped. Luiz heads clear, but right back to Lowton. Willock (-2) switches off and leaves Barnes open at the back post. Ceballos (+1) recognizes late and does enough to put Barnes off, although Barnes holds him off and get the header on goal. Leno (+1) saves. | ||||
| 38:03 | Monreal | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 1-0 |
| Monreal’s (-1) pass into Nelson (-1) is left short for Guendouzi, and although the ball bounces to Monreal, he passes it straight back to Burnley. | ||||
| 38:27 | Ceballos | Defense | 4-2-3-1 | 1-0 |
| Ceballos (+1) and Maitland-Niles double team, with Ceballos knocking the ball out of bounds off Burnley. | ||||
| 39:02 | Guendouzi | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 1-0 |
| Arsenal attack the left with Guendouzi (+1) playing the ball through to Monreal (-1), who mis-hits his cross right to Pope. | ||||
| 39:51 | Ceballos | Defense | 4-2-3-1 | 1-0 |
| Ceballos (+1) again double teams defensively, this time winning the ball back himself before juggling the ball up and sending it straight in the air. Aubameyang (+1) does well to finish the job. | ||||
| 40:18 | Willock | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 1-0 |
| Terrific from Willock (+1) and Guendouzi on the edge of the Arsenal box to get the ball to Ceballos in midfield. He carries the ball to the edge of the Burnley box, then lays off to Guendouzi (+1), who’s run 100 yards to catch up to the play. His shot forces a save from Pope. | ||||
| 42:11 | Ceballos | Transition | 4-2-3-1 | 1-0 |
| Minutes after Arsenal nearly score, Burnley actually do. Aubameyang plays into Nelson on the edge of the box, who tries to wriggle free to get a shot but has it blocked. Willock (-1) steps to press but is nutmegged and Burnley start the counter. Maitland-Niles has also pressed high but does well to get back and delay Wood and force back. Ceballos (-1) has also tracked back well, but gets skinned on the edge of the Arsenal box forcing Sokratis to step up. He blocks the shot right into the pathway of Barnes. Luiz (-2) has taken a fateful step forward allowing Barnes the space to receive the ball and tap it past Leno. 1-1 | ||||
| 44:58 | Monreal | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 1-1 |
| Willock plays the ball into Ceballos (+1). He gives to Monreal (+1), then gets it back and slips Monreal through. Monreal cuts back to Nelson (+1) who smashes it into the net. Offside. | ||||
| Second Half | ||||
| Time | Primary Player | Attack/Defense | Formation | Score |
| 45:00 | Pépé | Substitution | 4-2-3-1 | 1-1 |
| Nicolas Pépé on for Reiss Nelson at halftime. | ||||
| 45:20 | Pépé | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 1-1 |
| Pépé (+1) wastes no time influencing the game, cutting inside at midfield and then spraying the ball to Ceballos on the left. | ||||
| 45:54 | Maitland-Niles | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 1-1 |
| Maitland-Niles (+1/-0.5) speeds past his man at the top of the Burnley box, but his left-footed cross goes over the goal. | ||||
| 47:44 | Ceballos | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 1-1 |
| Ceballos’ (-1) pass to Aubameyang misses and rolls out for a Burnley throw. | ||||
| 49:20 | Maitland-Niles | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 1-1 |
| Arsenal try to play out. Maitland-Niles (-1) passes straight out of bounds under pressure. | ||||
| 49:40 | Maitland-Niles | Defense | 4-2-3-1 | 1-1 |
| Burnley try to create space in the left corner, but Maitland-Niles (+1) stands strongs and wins the tackle. | ||||
| 49:57 | Aubameyang | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 1-1 |
| After Pépé carries the ball into the Burnley end, Aubameyang (+1) chips the ball to the far post for Lacazette. He takes too long though, and has his shot blocked. | ||||
| 50:34 | Ceballos | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 1-1 |
| Ceballos (+1) dribbles to the corner then lays off for Monreal (+1) a little wide. Monreal does well to play the ball back to Ceballos, who slips him in at the corner of the box. Monreal slots back to Aubameyang who shoots a foot or two wide. | ||||
| 51:14 | Monreal | Defense | 4-2-3-1 | 1-1 |
| Burnley make themselves pests again, with Barnes cutting in front of Willock (-1) to win Pope’s goal kick. Maitland-Niles (-1) closes the flick on down, but the cross still gets past him. Guðmundsson picks up the ball inside the Arsenal box and crosses to the back post, but Monreal (+1) is there to head clear. | ||||
| 51:42 | Maitland-Niles | Defense | 4-2-3-1 | 1-1 |
| Maitland-Niles (+1) chests a cross back calmly to Leno. | ||||
| 51:52 | Pépé | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 1-1 |
| Pépé (-1) tries to take his man on in midfield, but is dispossessed. Sokratis (+1) does well to block Burnley’s attempted pass into the box, and the second chance is smashed over the bar. | ||||
| 52:26 | Pépé | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 1-1 |
| Sokratis plays into Pépé (-1), but his attempted flick goes no where near an Arsenal shirt. | ||||
| 53:02 | Sokratis | Defense | 4-2-3-1 | 1-1 |
| Surprise! Burnley play the ball long again, but this time Sokratis (+1) does well to outjump Barnes and win the ball back for Arsenal. | ||||
| 53:09 | Aubameyang | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 1-1 |
| Luiz’s (+1) pass cuts between two Burnley defenders, then Lacazette’s (+1) threads between two more. Aubameyang (+1) runs onto the ball down the left channel and crosses to Willock (-1). A better touch from him is a scoring chance, instead it takes him wide and Arsenal reset. | ||||
| 55:06 | Monreal | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 1-1 |
| Monreal (+1) plays a great ball over the top to Aubameyang in the box, but his attempted cut inside is cut out and Burnley clear. | ||||
| 55:55 | Willock | Transition | 4-2-3-1 | 1-1 |
| Willock (+1) reads well and blocks the Burnley pass right to Pépé, who sprints over the half line and passes into Lacazette. Tarkowski defends well though, and Arsenal turn back. | ||||
| 56:26 | Ceballos | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 1-1 |
| Ceballos (+1) loops the ball into Maitland-Niles (-1), but his touch is heavy and Burnley knock out for a corner. | ||||
| 56:58 | Willock | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 1-1 |
| Arsenal take the corner short, eventually working the ball to Willock (+1), who crosses to Sokratis. He wins the header and tries to knock it back, but Burnley block out for another corner. | ||||
| 58:06 | Maitland-Niles | Defense | 4-2-3-1 | 1-1 |
| Maitland-Niles (+1) reads the pass and is in position to intercept, but takes a poor touch and allows the ball through to McNeil. Undeterred, he races back and puts a tackle in to come away with the ball. | ||||
| 59:09 | Aubameyang | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 1-1 |
| Willock (+1) starts the move with a nice pass between the lines to Lacazette. He lays off to Pépé (+2), who squeezes the ball into Aubameyang (+1), who’s made a great run to open space for himself inside the box. The ball bounces up but Aubameyang still hits it with power. Pope saves. | ||||
| 59:31 | Willock | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 1-1 |
| Throw in from Maitland-Niles to Willock (-1), who loses the ball. Maitland-Niles commits the tactical foul. | ||||
| 60:24 | Pépé | Defense | 4-2-3-1 | 1-1 |
| Pépé (-1) cheats up the field on a 50/50 that’s eventually won by Burnley, leaving Pieters acres of space to cross the ball. He does, and finds Westwood who’s split from Guendouzi (-1) and Monreal (-1) enough to win the header, but he sends over. | ||||
| 61:40 | Willock | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 1-1 |
| Willock (-1) tries to play a cross field pass to Pépé, but doesn’t get enough on it and Burnley clear. | ||||
| 61:50 | Maitland-Niles | Transition | 4-2-3-1 | 1-1 |
| Maitland-Niles (+1) wins the tackle and plays to Pépé, who gives it back. He passes into Lacazette, who plays inside to Ceballos (+1), who weaves his way into an opening for a shot that’s saved by Pope out for a corner. | ||||
| 63:14 | Aubameyang | Transition | 4-2-3-1 | 1-1 |
| Ceballos (-1/+1) gives the ball away but presses on and wins it back himself. The ball falls to Aubameyang (+2), who dribbles to the edge of the box and shoots low and left. Somersaults. | ||||
| 65:30 | Ceballos | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 2-1 |
| Luiz (+1) again locked on, this time to Aubameyang. Pope rushes out of his box to head clear, but Ceballos’ (+1) energy leads to a foul and free kick in Arsenal’s favor. | ||||
| 66:46 | Willock | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 2-1 |
| Arsenal possessing well until Willock (-1) passes long to no one. | ||||
| 67:52 | Leno | Transition | 4-2-3-1 | 2-1 |
| Burnley corner, punched clear by Leno (+1). Sokratis kicks it straight in the air, but Ceballos (+1) again with the immaculate touch to get Arsenal out. Willock (-1) earns a handful of -0.5s; first taking a heavy touch allowing Burnley to almost stop the counter, then passing the ball behind Aubameyang for what could have been a 4v1, then trying to take his man 1v1 down the sideline and losing out. We’ll call it a -1 because he doesn’t give up and forces Westwood into a wild clearance. | ||||
| 69:01 | Pépé | Attack | 4-2-3-1 | 2-1 |
| Burnley press high, but Arsenal play out of it through Monreal (+1) and Aubameyang (+1), the latter getting a fortunate bounce. Monreal passes to Pépé (-2), whose pass for Lacazette goes behind him straight out of bounds. | ||||
| 70:03 | Aubameyang | Defense | 4-2-3-1 | 2-1 |
| Aubameyang (-1) catching his breath at midfield while Burnley play to Lowton. His shot is blocked by Willock back to Guðmundsson who crosses. Guendouzi just about does enough to put off McNeil’s header. | ||||
| 70:46 | Kolasinac | Substitution | 3-4-1-2 | 2-1 |
| Kolasinac comes on for Lacazette, who doesn’t pout like they do in Manchester. Arsenal change formation to a 3-4-1-2 with Pépé and Aubameyang up top. | ||||
| 73:39 | Ceballos | Attack | 3-4-1-2 | 2-1 |
| Ceballos (-1) loses the ball, then commits the foul just over halfway. | ||||
| 74:32 | Luiz | Attack | 3-4-1-2 | 2-1 |
| Leno plays the goal kick short to Luiz (+1) who erases six Burnley defenders with a single pass over the top. Aubameyang is likewise caught offguard, and is offside. | ||||
| 75:29 | Ceballos | Attack | 3-4-1-2 | 2-1 |
| Ceballos (+1) plays long to Maitland-Niles on the right, who drives at the Burnley defense, passes to Pépé, then watches as the shot slowly rolls to the GK. | ||||
| 76:56 | Pépé | Attack | 3-4-1-2 | 2-1 |
| We’ve all seen this play by now. Monreal plays into Pépé (+2), and he puts Mee on skates, nutmegging him and driving to goal before losing his footing at the crucial moment. Burnley mount the counter attack but Willock (+1) works hard to win the ball back for Arsenal. | ||||
| 81:12 | Monreal | Defense | 3-4-1-2 | 2-1 |
| Monreal (+1) wins two balls out of the air, the first on a punt from Pope, the second a cross. Burnley pass it around before attempted a third ball into the box, this time won by Sokratis (+1). | ||||
| 81: 54 | Ceballos | Attack | 3-4-1-2 | 2-1 |
| This sequence illustrates the new Arsenal. Leno throws to Luiz (+1), who loops a ball into Ceballos (+1) despite Ceballos being behind two Burnley defenders. He calmly brings the ball out of the air and splits both of them, before turning upfield and allowing Arsenal to get out. | ||||
| 82:35 | Torreira | Substitution | 3-4-1-2 | 2-1 |
| Lucas Torreira enters for Dani Ceballos. Standing ovation. | ||||
| 83:15 | Torreira | Attack | 3-4-1-2 | 2-1 |
| Torreira’s (-2) first touch is a simple pass that misses Maitland-Niles by three feet and goes directly out of bounds. | ||||
| 84:58 | Maitland-Niles | Defense | 3-4-1-2 | 2-1 |
| Maitland-Niles (-1) goes for the interception but misses, allowing Burnley to work the ball down his wing and cross. Torreira (-1) backs off too far before recognizing it’s him or no one to press the ball. He can’t get there in time. Luiz does enough to put off Barnes and the ball bounces to Leno. | ||||
| 87:04 | Kolasinac | Transition | 3-4-1-2 | 2-1 |
| Kolasinac (-1) has been on for 17 minutes but we haven’t seen him do anything until now. Here, his attempted flick pass is poor, but Luiz (+1) is able to step in to cut down the counter attack. | ||||
| 88:54 | Pépé | Attack | 3-4-1-2 | 2-1 |
| Leno sends the kick long for the first time on the day, and Pépé (+1) heads perfectly into Aubameyang’s (-1) path. His spins and then attempts to pass back, but loses the ball. Luiz (+1) steps in front of Barnes to send the ball back into the Burnley end, and Willock (+1) does well to send Pépé through, but the cross is blocked and cleared. | ||||
| 89:30 | Torreira | Attack | 3-4-1-2 | 2-1 |
| Willock (+1) boxes out his man before beating him to the endline and slotting back to Torreira (+1). His shot is powerful, but saved. | ||||
| 91:12 | Pépé | Transition | 3-4-1-2 | 2-1 |
| Arsenal holding a high line on a Burnley free kick at midfield. Sokratis (+1) wins the ball in the air allowing Arsenal to break. Torreira’s (+1) ball to Pépé (-1) is excellent, but his pass to Aubameyang forces him to wait, and when he tries to cut back the ball is stolen. | ||||
| 91:36 | Maitland-Niles | Defense | 3-4-1-2 | 2-1 |
| Torreira is fouled near midfield. No call. Maitland-Niles (-1) is gassed and lets Lennon carry the ball to the edge of the box, before getting beat inside of it for the cross. Headed out for a corner by Kolasinac (+1). | ||||
| 92:30 | Sokratis | Defense | 3-4-1-2 | 2-1 |
| Pope up for the corner for Burnley, and outjumps Aubameyang with the help of two subtle pushes in the back. He heads the ball back into the mix, with Monreal (-1) holding everyone onside. Luiz (+1) heads out for another corner. Sokratis (+1) goes up like a man and wins it. Full time. | ||||
Expected goals
For the second week in a row Arsenal dominated midfield without creating much in the way of clear-cut scoring chances. They put up a +30.5 offensively on the day, but only +8.5 of came from attacking players as the Gunners tried and (mostly) failed to get them involved.
Part of that was Burnley’s organization defensively, but the biggest difference was probably the absence of Xhaka, which took away their main midfield progressive passing threat.
I never thought I’d say that out loud.
Both his replacement, Joe Willock, and Matteo Guendouzi rarely looked between the lines—understandable since they’re only 19 and 20 respectively—but the onus for getting the ball to the attackers fell mainly on Ceballos and the attackers themselves. Guendouzi only had two offensive contributions the entire game.
Who was good? Who struggled?
Let’s start with the chart:
Ceballos was terrific, putting up a +15 in 83 minutes. Everything good about last week’s Newcastle cameo was on full display in this one, without much of the bad.
His confidence on the ball immediately jumped out:
That’s him backheeling the ball in his own box, then receiving the ball and turning back inside towards his own goal.
Late in the game, he allowed Arsenal to continue playing out from the back, even in the face of heavy pressure:
He did it in the attacking end too:
For someone as talented on the ball as he is, his workrate is something else. Here he is running down a hopeless ball and getting an Arsenal free kick out of it:
Two minutes earlier, he does the hard work for Aubameyang’s game-winning goal:
He’s going to cost a lot of money when Arsenal try to buy him at the end of the season. I’ll enjoy the ride until then.
Davis Luiz also had himself a game, in both facets of the game.
Offensively, he opens up so much of the field:
He attempted two or three similar passes that nearly came off, and there was a marked difference between him and Calum Chambers last week in their ability to pass their way beyond the high press. In the absence of Xhaka, he was the only one looking to take the top off the Burnley defense.
Luiz put up a +7 defensively too, mostly on +1 plays like this:
On its own, the play isn’t anything special. But doing it over and over again is the mark of a quality defender. At €10 million, he looks to be a top, top signing.
Only three players ended the day in the red. One of them was Lucas Torreira, who put a -2 pass straight out of bounds to start his seven minute shift, and didn’t do much else.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles had the worst score of the day at -1.5, but I thought he put in a workmanlike performance against the shithousery of Ashley Barnes. Most of his minuses were in the air where he was giving up three or four inches.
Guendouzi was the other 90-minute negative score on the day, but for the second week in a row I thought he was quality in ways that don’t come through on the chart. Along with Sokratis and David Luiz, he was most often tasked with jumping with the two Burnley juggernauts; that he he came out close to even is a win in my book.
How about the guy who cost €80 million?
There were flashes, to go along with the Ben Mee evisceration we’ve all already seen:
There were also clear signs he’s still not comfortable, the worst being the pass he left short for Aubameyang at the end of the game that would have iced it:
He was considerably better than against Newcastle, and is moving in the right direction at least.
Takeaways for Liverpool?
Burnley play a completely different style offensively than what Arsenal will see at Anfield on Saturday, and there were signs Arsenal might opt for a system change too.
I’m hopeful the three-at-the-back dalliance was just that, but there’s an argument for going with three defenders while trying to play on the counter.
I’d prefer to go toe to toe with them in the system Arsenal spent all offseason building their team around, if for no other reason than to see if the Gunners are as good as we all think they are.
Two straight weeks of possession dominance should come to an end, but will play right into Arsenal’s hands if they can avoid giving up an early goal.
Emery seems to be hesitant to put Pépé on from the start, but he was bought for games like Liverpool away; turn him loose.
If Xhaka comes back into the team, Ceballos has to keep his place over Guendouzi and/or Willock, despite how well they’ve played to start the season.
David Luiz’s long-range passing could steal a goal against Liverpool’s high line.
Opposing defenders: Don’t let Aubameyang shoot…