Arsenal vs Burnley Preview: How to Watch, Predicted Lineups, Score Prediction & Team News

Arsenal host Burnley in the Premier League on Sunday.

Every week Arsenal seem to be faced with a must-win game. Languishing in 15th spot in the Premier League with 13 points from 11 matches and sitting eight points adrift of fourth spot, the visit of the Clarets could even determine the outcome of their season, let alone be classed as must-win.

If Arsenal don’t win, or Heavens to Betsy lose on Sunday, then it could well spell curtains for any faint aspirations there may be of securing a Champions League berth this season. Even worse, if Mikel Arteta was feeling the pressure before, defeat would plummet him to the very depths of Challenger Deep.

As per the Premier League table, there are only five sides worse off than the Gunners at present. One of them is Burnley. Just one win from their opening ten matches leaves them occupying the final spot of the relegation zone, so in truth, Arsenal couldn’t ask for a better fixture.

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We’ve come to realise now that this means nothing. It doesn’t matter who the opposition are, if you can’t score goals you might as well be playing yourself. Coming up against a side known for their defensive stability and unwillingness to chase games away from home, the current predicament could remain unsolved.

It’s remarkable that despite how woeful Arsenal have been this season, they could move within five points of a top four spot if results go their way. With fixtures aplenty to come over December, including another home league clash on Wednesday, getting a positive run together is the only way that this season can come within reach of being rekindled.

Here’s your preview for Sunday’s Premier League visit of Burnley.

How to Watch on TV

When Is Kick Off? Sunday 13th December
What Time Is Kick Off? 19:15 (BST)
Where Is it Played? Emirates Stadium
TV Channel/Live Stream? Sky Sports Main Event (UK) fuboTV (USA)
Referee? Graham Scott

Team News

Thursday’s midweek victory over Dundalk not only saw Arsenal make history in European competition with their first ever full sweep of a group stage campaign (with an obvious asterisk attached) but it also saw Calum Chambers and Pablo Mari play the full 90 minutes together.

The pair had mostly error-free evenings but it’s clear they’re still some way off full fitness, thus their inclusions in the squad for Sunday are unlikely. Even if they are, starting berths are unlikely to be dished out.

David Luiz‘s recovery could impact their involvement, as his head wound needs assessing closer to kick-off to determine whether he is able to feature. Nonetheless, Gabriel and Rob Holding look set to start.

Reiss Nelson and Sead Kolasinac were both absent from the Aviva Stadium, the former suffering a knock to the head in training and left out as a precaution; it’s not expected to rule him out of the weekend. As for Kolasinac, his omission was down to a minor problem suffered in training, one that will also not rule him out long-term.

Thomas Partey is the only big name absentee following another thigh strain picked up against Sp*rs, with Arteta confirming he will miss the next few matches. Gabriel Martinelli returned for the Under-21 side recently, playing 45 minutes, and is on the road to recovery.

Burnley were without Johann Berg Gudmundsson, Dale Stephens, Phil Bardsley and Jack Cork for the recent draw with Everton, although only the latter of those is expected to be out for any length of time. Late fitness tests will be conducted for the other trio ahead of their journey south.

Predicted Lineups

Arsenal: Leno; Bellerin, Holding, Gabriel, Tierney; Xhaka, Elneny, Lacazette; Willian, Aubameyang, Saka

Burnley: Pope; Lowton, Tarkowski, Mee, Taylor; Brady, Westwood, Brownhill, McNeil; Wood, Rodriguez

Arsenal vs Burnley Score Prediction

Let’s start with some history.

Burnley have never beaten Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, losing all six of their visits to the capital. They’ve come close to claiming a draw before, but there has been late drama in this fixture on more than one occasion. Furthermore, Sean Dyche has never beaten Arsenal, the only club he’s never tasted victory over in the Premier League.

Good omens, right?

They are indeed. However, Arsenal can’t even begin to contemplate mustering a single thought about past records. Nor can the fans. It is do or die on Sunday, make absolutely no bones about it.

Just like with Tottenham, nobody is under any illusions as to how the Clarets will approach the game. They’ll get bodies in the box, invite crosses and look to find either Robbie Brady or Dwight McNeil in wide areas where they can whip their own balls in for the front two. Equally, they’ll go long down the middle in search of Chris Wood, and get bodies around him to pick up second balls.

https://twitter.com/PainInThArsenal/status/1337147678153650179

That’s how they’ll play. Sadly, on the other hand, everyone also knows exactly how Arsenal will, too. The style has become the bane of our lives: tiresome, lethargic shifting of play into wide areas to grant the opponent all the time they need to organise themselves defensively.

Will that change on Sunday? Will Arsenal pose a threat in other areas?

I think not. What I do think though, is that we’ll win this game. With the approach Arteta uses, it relies on individual errors or high turnovers to be most dangerous. No such opportunities have been forthcoming thus far, but there has to come a point where a half-chance, wherever from, will be tucked away.

This game may follow a similar trajectory to Sheffield United when they came to the Emirates: Arsenal will probe without penetration, and a brief five/ten minute spell could be Burnley’s undoing.

Score Prediction: Arsenal 2-1 Burnley