Arsenal: 4 negatives of hard fought Burnley win

2. Ben White Struggles at His Strength

Much of the pre-match talk was dominated by White’s impending aerial battle with Chris Wood, as the main weakness in his game was certain to be targetted by Burnley as they persist with their usual long ball style.

In the end he dealt with that challenge admirably.

Winning four of his five aerial duels and recording the most headed clearances of any Arsenal player (4), the task set before him was one he gobbled up and spat out.

Which is why it was interesting to see him struggle with the side of his game that he is most comfortable at. With the ball on the ground, White did not have a great afternoon.

His horror backpass to Ramsdale was fortunately recovered well by the goalkeeper but elsewhere across the game he had moments of odd decision-making with instances that appeared to lack focus.

Given the reasons he was signed weren’t on show at all at Turf Moor then it can be put down as an anomaly. Perhaps it was a case of him overexerting himself in certain aspects that he lost some form of mental balance in how he was going to play. Who knows. Mental balance might not even be a thing.

That level of sloppiness he showed won’t go unpunished again. He can count himself lucky on this occasion, one which history suggests should be a one off.

Continued…