Burnley vs. Arsenal: Tactical Preview of Premier League Game
Burnley host Arsenal on Saturday in a game which could have severe implications at both ends of the table. Should the hosts win they would likely clamber out of the relegation zone, while if the visitors emerge victorious they can keep Manchester United at arm's length in the race for second.
Burnley News
Sean Dyche rarely rotates his side these days; eight among the Burnley squad have started at least 25 of the 31 games so far, with three having started all 31, per WhoScored.com.
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Given how strong the performance against Tottenham Hotspur was it's unlikely we'll see many, if any, alterations to the XI. Sam Vokes and Danny Ings up top, Scott Arfield and David Jones in the middle, and the evergreen pairing of Michael Duff and Jason Shackell at the back.
Shackell—one of the three on 31 starts—should be joined by the other two who hold that distinction: Kieran Trippier and Tom Heaton.
Arsenal News
Per The Guardian, only Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's two-week injury setback has stopped Arsene Wenger from being able to pick from a fully fit squad. Heady days for the Gunners physios and backroom staff.
Ultimately there isn't going to be too much rotation from the XI that destroyed Liverpool 4-1 last weekend, with Olivier Giroud, Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez all finding form once again, and Danny Welbeck was superb off the bench.
Arsenal.com have suggested Laurent Koscielny may not be risked due to a niggling hip/thigh issue, and with Gabriel Paulista in place as proper depth at centre-back, we may see him partner Per Mertesacker.
Key Point 1: Gunners Need to Utilise Pace
Tottenham were pressed high and early last week by Burnley, and after the Clarets forced one mistake in midfield that led to an Ings chance, the away side lacked the confidence to play forward, penetrative passes. It meant Harry Kane received no service and, crucially, the Duff-Shackell pairing weren't tested over the top despite holding a high line.
Burnley know when to press and when to drop deep, but tend to start higher up in a positive stance. Arsenal need to utilise the pace in their side in a way Spurs wholly failed to: by hitting diagonals, hitting the channels and lifting balls in over the top early on.
Giroud hardly screams pace and he's not the man you want running in behind given his one-on-one record, but Ozil can drop peaches in for Alexis on one flank and someone like Theo Walcott or Welbeck on the other.
They'll have a tough 90 if they try to play through Burnley. It's best to try to spring in behind early.
Key Point 2: Can Burnley Fluster Francis Coquelin?
The aforementioned Ings chance, had he scored and not hit the palms of Michel Vorm one-on-one, would have been enough to win the match and pick up three points against Spurs. It was also a near-mirror image of a goal Marseille scored later that same night, with Marcelo Bielsa's high-press creating an interception from Alaixys Romao and an immediate chance which Andre-Pierre Gignac put away.
Flustering Ryan Mason is one thing, but can Dyche's men create these opportunities by pressuring the uber-cool Francis Coquelin? The Arsenal man is now so full of confidence and so assured in his recycling of possession, he may not fall for the trick.
The Clarets need to be able to create turnovers high up as they'll be without the ball for long periods. Ings, Arfield and Jones will have their work cut out here.
