In the late kickoff fixture on Saturday night, Arsenal got the better of Burnley courtesy to a solitary goal by Aaron Ramsey. But as the score-line suggests, the win was not without scares for the Gunners as resellient Burnely kept themselves in contention for the whole 90 minutes. But, as a result of the vast difference in quality of the players and the recent form of both teams, Arsenal were able to return to London with all 3-points in their bag.
Here are 5 talking points from the game at the Turf Moor Stadium: –
Title seems unlikely, but 2nd position is Arsenal’s to lose!
3 months from now with Arsenal cutting a sorry figure at the Saint Mary Stadium after Dusan Tadic put the ball into the back of the net to give the hosts a 2 goal lead, nobody would have imagined that this distraught looking Arsenal team will be leading Manchester City by 5 points by the mid of April.
However, courtesy to some brave decision making by Arsene Wenger and show of form by Olivier Giroud, Arsenal are standing firm on the 2nd spot. And even though they have a fixture against Chelsea looking their way, Arsenal are still the front-runners of finishing runners up this season.
Wilshere, Walcott and Szczesny would have to do something outrageous to be called back into the starting 11
Fielding the same starting 11 that drowned Liverpool a week ago at home, Arsene Wenger – very callously, underlined a letter of authority for the trio that is sitting on the sidelines: no place is for granted. Looking at the movement of Ozil, the trickery of Sanchez and the form of Olivier Giroud, it would be cruel – if not catastrophic, if Wenger now decides alter his starting 11 to accommodate Theo Walcott.
Shifting our attention to the midfield department and looking at the place which Wilshere would improve, there is certainly not a department that is lingering for the return of Wilshere. With Ramsey on his red-hot form and Coquelin virtually un-droppable, Jack Wilshere might have to wait for another injury crisis to earn a place in the starting 11. And with 6 clean-sheets speaking for themselves for Ospina – along with his attitude, Szczesny might be the first Arsenal player looking for greener pastures in the summer.
Mertesacker was solid as a rock for Arsenal
As they say that adversity gets the best out of any personnel, Arsene Wenger might imply himself as a genius after seeing the performances of the big German since return. While he was dropped due to pure football reasons, Mertesacker – with his performances in the last few matches, has done himself justice to capture the lost ground. Thus, even if Wenger decides to include Gabriel in the next match, Mertesacker has done really well to emboss his reputation as a solid-defender for the Gunners.
Despite their loss today, Burnley still have a fighting chance of avoiding the drop
Coming against a team that has stunned an in-form team like Liverpool with flashes of brilliance last week, it will be fair to say that Sean Dyche did his homework really well to limit the gunners within touching distance. And with Sunderland also being beaten, Burnely have a fighting chance to avoid the drop this season.
Arsenal are dynamic in their approach of late
While they inflicted misery on Liverpool last weekend with speed that can only be equaled with that of light, Arsenal showed another aspect of their game today. After scoring an early goal today as a result of an attack which had a plethora of shots directed on the goal-keeper, Arsenal did really well to limit the threat of Barnes and Danny Ings. Thus, epitomizing their dynamism of late, Arsene Wenger has silenced his critics (read Piers Morgan) in grand fashion today.
Full time: Burnley 0-1 Arsenal
Burnley 0-1 Arsenal: 5 things we learned
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