Arsenal v Burnley: 3 key requirements to beat Sean Dyche’s side

2. Contest the Aerial Battles Against Long-Ball Burnley

The one thing we know with Burnley is that they love set pieces – and this is likely to be their main weapon on Saturday.

Arsenal and set pieces have often been said in the same sentence and not in a positive way. With the likes of Wood, Barnes, Mee and Tarkowski, the Clarets have enough firepower to trouble whoever they face on dead balls. Limiting the set pieces is going to be crucial but all is not lost should they do so.

In the league this season, Arsenal has not conceded a single goal from a set-piece. They have looked shaky, though, and this is coming after Andreas Georgson made immense improvements to the defensive set pieces in the season just passed. Prior to that Arsenal were hopeless at them. They still can’t score from them, mind you.

Burnley’s number one way to attack will be through set pieces, but they will also attempt to catch Arsenal on the break. With the Gunners likely to have its fair share of possession wanting to pin Burnley back, this presents the likes of Barnes, Dwight McNeil, and Jóhann Guðmundsson with chances to run at the Arsenal defense in transition.

Too often in the opening four games, Arsenal has been easily played through. Even Norwich found some joy on the break and could have stolen an undeserved point with better finishing.

Remaining tight, compact and solid defensively will be critical for Arsenal as once Burnley’s crowd gets a sniff that you can be got at, it is tough to come back from. They will look to hit the strikers early with long balls, most likely targetting Ben White, and getting bodies in the right areas to win second balls and expose the Clarets’ shape in those phases will be key.

Aaron Ramsdale has a big part to play, too.

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