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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Arsenal Team News – Mikel Arteta Has Welcome Squad Boost for Burnley Clash

Whisper it quietly, but, Arsenal have almost got a fully fit squad to choose from. It’s headline grabbing stuff.

Of course, not everyone is fit and available, or eligible to play because they know how to keep their emotions in check, but as far as the starting lineup is concerned it’s nearly at its ideal.

Xhaka remains the only absentee who if available would likely make the team, and with Thomas Partey now primed and ready for his first start of the season nobody is especially concerned about that.

Mohamed Elneny is still recovering from a hamstring strain and won’t be back at training for another week, while Rob Holding is nursing a bruised knee and should be available for selection for the EFL Cup clash with AFC Wimbledon.

With Emile Smith Rowe healthy after illness and Partey fit, those two could come into the lineup while Aaron Ramsdale keeps his place over Bernd Leno. Exciting times, right?

As for the hosts, their big-money signing, Maxwell Cornet, could be in line for his debut after joining from Lyon for £13m. No, we can’t quite believe that happened either.

Conor Roberts may also get a start at right-back but otherwise it’s a clean bill of health for Dyche.

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Arsenal Predicted Lineup vs Burnley – Ramsdale to Stay in Ahead of Leno?

Burnley: Pope; Roberts, Tarkowski, Mee, Taylor; Gudmundsson, Westwood, Brownhill, McNeil; Wood, Barnes

Arsenal: Ramsdale; Tomiyasu, White, Gabriel, Tierney; Partey, Sambi, Saka, Odegaard, Smith Rowe; Aubameyang

Burnley vs Arsenal Score Prediction

Has to be a win for the away side. Has to be.

There is some risk being run when hyper-analysing matches. Everyone will have watched the highlights of the Norwich win and dissected all the various aspects of it. It’s the first win this season, it’s natural to get caught up.

But then you wonder if the amount of shots Arsenal had are unrepresentative as they came late on with the Canaries chasing the game; how much can be attributed to how distinctly average Norwich are? Etc, etc.

The best way to preview this match is to look at the trajectories of each side and their requisite qualities: Burnley like to hit the strikers early and there is no doubting that Ben White will be targeted. A weakness? Yes.

Burnley’s midfield pairing are also not fast and susceptible to being broken up on the floor. A weakness? Yes.

Arsenal have the better squad, the better starting lineup, the better manager and that smidgen more confidence. One of those fixtures you always look at and think ‘ooh, that’ll be tough’ only to remind yourself that that Burnley have only beaten Arsenal once since they got promotion 12 years ago.

But I’m always sceptical. Arsenal aren’t good yet.

Score Prediction: Burnley 1-2 Arsenal