Arsenal's home season kicks off with the weekend's early fixture tomorrow as they welcome Burnley to the Emirates Stadium.
In what is currently the battle of 7th v 5th, Unai Emery's men know that all three points here rockets them to the top of the Premier League table, and although its still extremely early and is unlikely to survive the weekend, two wins from two is the ideal start and a great platform to build upon.
After dispatching Newcastle in the northeast last weekend, tomorrow brings about a slightly different challenge in a more physical Burnley. They often deploy two out-and-out strikers up top to try and unsettle Arsenal's historically leaky backline and it's been fairly successful over recent years. However, after an away clean sheet to start the season, confidence among Leno, Sokratis and co should be high, and high enough to keep Burnley out. With Bernd Leno now fully settled and seemingly at home, added to the Gunners' outstanding home record last season, Sean Dyche's clarets are looking at an uphill battle to say the least.
Starting XI aside, Arsenal's bench last Sunday was as good as it's probably ever been in the second half of the Emirates era and it's likely to get even better once Sead Kolasinac and Mesut Ozil return to action. Both returned to full training this week and are in contention to play tomorrow but the final decision will be made today based on match sharpness and intensity. Having missed over a week and with other players now slightly further ahead in their match touch and fitness, it's unlikely either will start tomorrow.
Further forward, star link up man Alex Lacazette saw no action against Newcastle as he fully recovered from a preseason niggle but he is expected to feature this time around. Doubts over midfield general Granit Xhaka surfaced yesterday though so we could see changes in the engine room. The likes of Matteo Guendouzi, who looked on point last weekend, the tenacious Lucas Torreira (who is yet to feature), and on-loan technician Dani Ceballos will be competing to be the starting pairing or one as Xhaka's partner should he make it. Bruising to the lower back is the issue the Swiss needs to get through today before being assessed ahead of the game.
£72 million man Nicolas Pepe is in line to feature once again, and after Henrikh Mkhitaryan's very indifferent ninety minutes last time out, he could be the man to come in and replace the struggling Armenian down the left flank. Youngsters Joe Willock and Reiss Nelson certainly did themselves no disservice against Newcastle and will both be fighting to make the starting XI once again.
Burnley come to north London off the back of a smashing three-nil victory against Southampton in their season opener and won't be short of confidence either. Left back Charlie Taylor is likely to return to the matchday squad after missing out a week ago but winger Robbie Brady who isn't far away is still unavailable. On loan Chelsea midfielder Danny Drinkwater is lacking match fitness so won't feature nor will Belgian creator Steven Defour who remains a long term absentee. Chris Wood and Ashley Barnes upfront are the dangermen to keep an eye on. They'll put themselves about and make life very difficult for Sokratis and Luiz (or Chambers) at the back but with only two in midfield, could this central battle be pivotal to the game's outcome? Two against Arsenal's likely three sounds a recipe for disaster.
Expected lineup:
GK: Bernd Leno
RB: Ainsley Maitland-Niles
CB: Sokratis
CB: David Luiz
LB: Nacho Monreal
CM: Granit Xhaka
CM: Lucas Torreira
RW: Reiss Nelson
CAM: Dani Ceballos
LW: Nicolas Pepe
ST: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Prediction: 2-0 to the Arsenal with Aubameyang continuing his good starting form and Pepe getting his first in a Gunners shirt.
@craigbennett10
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