Arsenal return to league action as they welcome Sean Dyche and Burnley to North London knowing that only a win is good enough to regain some momentum and a new starting point in the run up to Christmas. Having now lost two games on the spin, Head Coach Unai Emery is facing a number of questions heading into this one.
With Bellerin and Mustafi both missing out, and with Kolasinac a doubt, the defence is once again looking stretched. Koscielny could feature in his third game inside a week whilst Sokratis will also continue. With resources stretched and a number of baffling tactical decisions involving Granit Xhaka in defence last time out, against Burnley we should see a back four with Xhaka restored in his normal midfield birth.
In midfield, Henrikh Mkhitaryan is a doubt and once again all conversation surrounds Mesut Ozil and his place in the team. With goals drying up of late and attacking creativity hard to come by, it's about time we see Aubameyang and Lacazette start together. Their link up play is like no other duo in the squad and against a team like Burnley on our own turf, deploying the two from the off shouldn't be an issue. Aaron Ramsey and Alex Iwobi could also both feature from the off once again with their coach seeking more creativity and attacking guile.
The visitors play a simple game built around big target-man strikers like Chris Wood and Ashley Barnes. Manager Dyche likes his team playing from an organised and well versed hymn sheet with wide players like Brady and Gudmundsson causing issues. The visitors will be without former Spurs winger Aaron Lennon as he battles a leg injury into the new year. It will be another tough test where Burnley will threaten but the Gunners should have enough firepower to win this one.
Expected lineup:
GK: Bernd Leno
RB: Stephan Lichtsteiner
CB: Sokratis
CB: Laurent Koscielney
LB: Nacho Monreal
CDM: Lucas Torreira
CDM: Granit Xhaka
RW: Alex Iwobi
CAM: Aaron Ramsey
LW: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
ST: Alex Lacazette
Prediction: 3-1 with the Arseanal returning to winning ways.
craigbennett10
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