Burnley vs Arsenal preview: How to watch, lineups, injury updates & prediction

Was it the turning of a violent tide or just a 1-0 win over an exceedingly average side? We’ll get a better understanding come Saturday when Arsenal travel to Turf Moor to take on Burnley in the Premier League.

It’s a sad week. And after a season most would like to forget ever happened, there were some unfortunate things called ‘records’ that were broken, ensuring that despite all our best efforts parts of the campaign are etched in history.

Burnley played their part in that. Losing 1-0 at home to them, the first time since 1974, was one of numerous home defeats and seeking to make amends in Lancashire the result ended 1-1. That second meeting included some prime Granit Xhaka.

There will be no Swiss for this meeting as he is suspended, which for a large swathe of supporters is a positive aspect as it means Albert Sambi Lokonga can keep his place in midfield. But more on that later.

Burnley vs Arsenal preview: Mikel Arteta eyes successive Premier League wins at Turf Moor on Saturday with a strong squad available

What Arsenal have to do is (no points awarded for guessing) win the game. Fairly straightforward stuff, at least based on recent results. Up until that horrible December evening in 2020, Burnley had never beaten Arsenal in the Premier League.

In the 12 top-flights meetings they’d only secured two points – one coming in under Mikel Arteta – prior to last season and another dire draw or tepid loss will not suffice.

It’s going to be an entirely different test to Norwich with a side adopting an old-school style of play. For an Arsenal outfit infamous for coming unstuck in fixtures against more physically imposing opposition, how the game is approached and tackled from a physical and tactical perspective will make for keen viewing.

But, y’know, win. Please? Supporters are clinging on to the hope of the previous match being the start of an upward curve and the only way that can be determined is from success over the coming fixtures.

The Clarets are one of the small minority of sides who have started the season worse than Arsenal with just the solitary point from their opening four matches – and considering how much Sean Dyche loves to moan about the Gunners in every way possible, it makes victory even sweeter. Best go out and clinch it, then.

A few more places up the Premier League table wouldn’t go amiss.

How to Watch on TV

When Is Kick Off? Saturday 18 August
What Time Is Kick Off? 15:00 (GMT)
Where Is it Played? Turf Moor
TV Channel/Live Stream? Not on UK TV (UK) fuboTV (USA)
Referee? Anthony Taylor

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