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

Saturday’s trip to Turf Moor will be an intriguing match-up for Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal side. Over the last few seasons, games against the so-called ‘lesser sides’ have not been Arsenal’s biggest strength. Against Burnley, they will be severely tested. As always.

Every football fan on the planet knows how Burnley likes to play its football: tough, physical, and long balls to the likes of Chris Wood and Ashley Barnes have proved to be something that Arsenal has found difficult to navigate past.

Last season Burnley got the better of Mikel Arteta’s side, winning 1-0 at the Emirates in December thanks to a Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang own goal after Granit Xhaka was sent off.

Then, in March, Chris Wood secured a draw at home for the Clarets as they held the Gunners to a 1-1 draw. Aubameyang had notched Arsenal in front with an early goal, only for Xhaka to have another deciding say in this fixture by doing that.

3 key aspects of Arsenal vs Burnley that Mikel Arteta’s side will have to manage in order to beat Sean Dyche’s side in the Premier League meeting

Nicolas Pepe struck the bar late on and should have won his side a penalty after one of the most baffling VAR decisions somehow saw Erik Pieters escape with the epitome of a blatant handball. Oh, yeah, and Dani Ceballos smashed the post as well after Bukayo Saka had an effort cleared off the line.

It was eventful.

So, after a painfully hollow week, how exactly does Arsenal get the three points on Sunday at a venue that is always pre-judged to be difficult, but one the club haven’t lost at in seven Premier League attempts?

1. Match Burnley’s Physicality

Burnley replaced Stoke as the team that likes to be The Kings of the Physical. Real physical. Tough, hard contests and the willingness to put their bodies on the line are a trademark of a Sean Dyche-led team.

That James Tarkowski tackle away at Everton in their last outing? Yeah, that’s Burnley.

Whether you agree with the ‘methods’ or not, the fact is Burnley is far from easy to beat, especially at home, even if their record of late has been poor. Fine margins, etc.

Because of this, matching the physicality of Burnley – or at least turning it up a few notches – is perhaps the most important part of Saturday’s game. Having Thomas Partey, Gabriel, and Kieran Tierney in the side certainly helps, as far too often Arsenal has been accused of having a soft underbelly – there is merit to that.

Technical director Edu said after signing both Partey and Gabriel:

"“I think we improved the squad’s quality and physicality,” he said. “If you see Gabriel, he gives us a lot of physicality and presence. “Thomas, physicality, quality and mentally he is very strong.”"

Too many times when the pressure has been put on Arsenal they simply fold and can’t handle it. This is why  Partey, Gabriel, and now Takehiro Tomiyasu, being in the side is critical. All three relish the physical nature of football and that will need to be demonstrated on Saturday.

At some point during the game, each Arsenal player is going to have a stick or twist moment where the pressure is applied, and how they react to it will tell us a lot. Will they revel in it? Or will they do what many Arsenal teams have done over the years, wilting and succumbing to a team that is inferior on paper?

Troy Deeney has made it a point to state Arsenal’s ability to crumble under physical pressure and on Saturday this will go a long way in determining a positive result for Arteta’s side.

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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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3. Finish Chances – Be Clinical

Probably a given in any game but seeing as Arsenal and Arteta need results and quick, going forward the Gunners have to be more clinical.

Against Norwich, Arsenal had a total of 30 shots at goal, however, only seven were on target. That is not an acceptable ratio in a game that they had well in hand. And towards the end of the game, the defense got nervy as the realisation of a single goal lead crept in.

On Saturday at Turf Moor, the likes of Aubameyang, Bukayo Saka, Nicolas Pepe, and Martin Odegaard must be ruthless in front of goal. Arsenal will not get 30 shots on goal against Burnley, especially away from home.

One need only look at this fixture last term when Pepe and Ceballos struck the woodwork and Saka was guilty of a poor miss in the first half. Ruthlessness is an unmistakable Achilles heel of this side.

When a chance comes Arsenal’s way, it has to be taken. This will largely fall on Aubameyang who is likely to lead the line again as well as Pepe as he had six shots against the Canaries long with six key passes, unless Emile Smith Rowe comes back in.

Should Arsenal waste several chances as they did against Norwich come Saturday, the result could be vastly different as Burnley will not be as generous in letting pops at goal slip by. They have strengths that Arteta’s side may not be able to counter.

Saturday presents a good opportunity for Arsenal to get vital back-to-back wins ahead of the visit of Tottenham. There are potential banana skins everywhere, but Burnley are in woeful form and have never beaten the Gunners at Turf Moor since being promoted to the Premier League.

Another win, more momentum and another step in the right direction for the manager and his team.