Match Day Arsenal v Burnley, Sunday 22nd January 14:15

[SALTIRE]

Match chat.

 

[TubularBells]

It's another one where we'll expect nothing and be happy with a point. To be fair, we don't tend to do too badly at The Emirates over recent seasons, performance wise anyway.
I guess it depends on if we have signed anyone before tomorrows deadline of Noon. I think we've finally found a system away from home in which we can actually have an effect on a game. I'll be as interested as any Clarets fan if Dyche will persist with that 4-4-2 or employ the old tactic with different players. Playing a 4-2-3-1 with Defour being allowed to roam a bit more and Hendrick probing across the width of the pitch as a more attacking player. Less direct, less long ball and more incisive.
I'd be tempted to play Tarkowski in a defensive midfielder role. Many won't have heard of him but if I was to liken him to anyone. It'd be Beckenbauer in style. He can play with either foot, so calm and composed, brings the ball forward from defence and his passing is exquisite. The only reason he isn't a regular is because our other two centre halves have been excellent.
This worked very well on Tuesday against Sunderland. Who couldn't cope with it at all. Granted, and no disrespect to Sunderland; Arsenal are a far better team.

 

[Benji]

Sanchez is so good. Everyone at Arsenal was losing their heads in injury time, including the manager. Arsenal get a penalty, and what does he do? Panenka.

 

[DarkSithLord]

Just 2 replies to this thread?

Crazy stoppage time. Wenger losing his head was funny.

 

[Super_horns]

Burnley not had much luck v Arsenal!

 

[Storzy]

I didn't think there was actually any contact for their penalty, so just figured that was a bit of karma for what happened in the reverse fixture. I guess not. Poor Burnley.

Xhaka is clearly a very good player, but what a liability he can be. Cazorla can't come back quick enough.

Sanchez is so good. Everyone at Arsenal was losing their heads in injury time, including the manager. Arsenal get a penalty, and what does he do? Panenka.

I think that's the only penalty he knows!

 

[TubularBells]

Burnley not had much luck v Arsenal!

Being pragmatic. We were lucky not to have a penalty given against us earlier when Gray needlessly fouled their player. Que Sera, Sera. We have improved as the season has gone on away and surely points will come if we carry on in the same vein.
That said, you could argue they were offside in the build up to the 'penalty' and it wasn't a penalty for me.
Twice now Arsenal have nicked it in the last seconds but we really do need to play out games better. Dyche's tactics and substitutions baffled me, the bench was far too defensive. Yet again we had a winger with pace on the bench who wasn't used and he played a diminutive midfielder on the wing who is not a winger.

 

[smat]

Only saw the highlights but the only poor decision was that by the assistant ref not to give offside against Koscielny at the end. The big decisions made by the referee were all correct IMVHO.

 

[Super_horns]

What was Wenger's problem?

Even after the game he didn't complain and accepted he had been OTT in reacting to the officials.

 

[smat]

What was Wenger's problem?

Even after the game he didn't complain and accepted he had been OTT in reacting to the officials.

Little bit emotional.

 

[joethegill]

Only saw the highlights but the only poor decision was that by the assistant ref not to give offside against Koscielny at the end. The big decisions made by the referee were all correct IMVHO.

Agree with that. People on Twitter were slating Moss for his performance but I think he got everything right all game! Like you say, the linesman should've given offside but even then it was VERY tight.

 

[TubularBells]

Only saw the highlights but the only poor decision was that by the assistant ref not to give offside against Koscielny at the end. The big decisions made by the referee were all correct IMVHO.

Can't argue with that. Thought ref/assistants had a good game aside from that last minute decision. Bloody Koscielny again, offside again. Starting to dislike that man

 

[Super_horns]

The linesmen never seem to be blamed for anything - they are probably much worse than the refs in reality.

Amount of times you see the latter having to give a decision because the assistant doesn't is crazy.

 

[Storzy]

That's a good point Super_horns. The linesman that missed the Kos offside is also the one that missed the Mustafi pen as well. So other than him, the officals had good games!

 

[Super_horns]

When we had the "ghost" goal all those years back Atwell got all the stick but it was actually the lino who gave it at first!