The October fixtures are over, and it couldn’t have gone better for the Gunners. After starting the month in 2nd place and trailing Liverpool, they ended it 7 points clear of the title holders and atop
the Premier League table while furthering their Champions League and Carabao Cup campaigns with a slew of record-setting clean sheets, which culminated with their 2-0 win over Brighton in the Carabao Cup 4th round on Wednesday as Arsenal became the first-ever club in England’s top flight to finish 6 matches in a month without conceding a single goal. For all of the handwringing about “boring, boring Arsenal,” you’d be hard pressed to find a single supporter of any club that is bored by that type of return.
A big part of that can be credited to having played 5 of their 6 matches at the Emirates. But now the Gunners start November with three consecutive away matches and will look to carry October’s streak into November when they travel north to face Burnley in a match that could provide some much-needed breathing room at the top of the PL table if they take care of business.
Everyone knows who Arsenal are at this stage – a brutally disciplined side that look to wear down the opposition with possession, suck the life out of their attack, defend imperiously, and take their chances shrewdly. But the Gunners will need to find a different gear in front of goal as teams become more and more content with setting up in low blocks against Mikel Arteta’s side. Can Arsenal keep their composure and widen the gap away from home before the break?
Here are three talking points ahead of Saturday’s match:
Know the Enemy
Burnley were promoted to the Premier League’s this past summer after an historic season in the Championship in 2024/25. Under manager Scott Parker, they set a slew of records, including a club-record 33 match unbeaten run and an English league record after conceding only 16 goals in 46 matches. For all of the praise Arsenal have gotten this season for their defensive prowess this season, Burnley broke the mold last season, securing 30 clean sheets and never conceding more than a goal a game. Boring, boring Burnley.
To their credit, they have fared much better than most newly-promoted sides have in recent campaigns. With two wins on the bounce against Leeds and Wolves, they sit above the drop zone in 16th with 10 points and a 3-1-5 record. They are far from the league’s worst side, but are not entirely safe from a slip up if you unpack some of the underlying stats.
When you open the hood and look at the finer bits, the stats indicate that they are incredibly fortunate to be anywhere above the drop. According to Opta, they have been absolutely buoyed by an attack that has made the most of their sparse chances. The Clarets rank dead last in the xG table in the attack (6.82) while sitting atop in the xG given up table (18.56). With 12 goals scored, they are drastically over-performing (+5.18 goals vs xG) in front of the net while registering the least shots taken in the PL (71). Sometimes, it’s better To be lucky than good.
If Arsenal are to beat them, they will need to maximize their open play chances. Burnley have given up league-leading 332 touches in the box to opposition as well as most shots (165) and SOTs (51) given up while having only given up one set piece goal all season. Arsenal lead the pack in touches in the box (320) and are 3rd in shots (133)
Injuries & Suspensions
Mikel Arteta announced on Friday that Gabriel Martinelli, who missed Wednesday’s Carabao Cup match, will be unavailable for Saturday’s clash. It remains to be seen if his knock will keep him out for longer, but here’s hoping he can be back for the trip to Slavia Prague and continue his red-hot CL form.
William Saliba, after missing out midweek as well, is in contention for selection.
OUT: Kai Havertz (knee), Noni Madueke (knee), Martin Ødegaard (MCL), Gabriel Jesus (ACL), Gabriel Martinelli (knock)
Predicted Linuep
Attack: Trossard, Gyökeres, Saka
After getting some long overdue rest on Wednesday, Viktor Gyökeres returns to lead the line. He has been doing a lot right this season, but has struggled to get shots with regularity. Part of that might be chalked up to being knackered having played almost every available minute. Leandro Trossard came on late to see things out and was unlucky to not find the net. His movement and ball control will be crucial against a side likely to set up deep. After a bout of illness last week, Bukayo Saka returns to his starting role after a classic Saka cameo to ice the match on Wednesday.
Midfield: Rice, Zubimendi, Eze
Mikel Arteta will roll out his preferred available midfield trio following a rotated midfield against Brighton. If there is a chance for a player to be rested, it may be Eberechi Eze. He was the lone starter from the first XI on Wednesday, and he hasn’t had much rotation in recent weeks following Martin Ødegaard’s MCL injury. Ethan Nwaneri could be a shout for a start following a sharp display midweek. But, knowing Arteta, he will likely give Eze the nod as he continues to learn the system and gel with his teammates.
Defense: Calafiori, Gabriel, Saliba, Timber
The entire starting defense got a rest against Brighton, save for Jurrien Timber and Gabriel, who were late subs. William Saliba was unavailable through injury and is possibly set to play, Cristhian Mosquera could get another if he is unavailable following a largely sound outing on Wednesday. Riccardo Calafiori returns to the side a little more rested and will hopefully provide the sort of chaos factor that has unlocked stubborn defenses this season.
Keeper: Raya
Arsenal’s #1 takes his spot back following yet another match on Wednesday where he didn’t face a single shot on target (he was on the bench, but we will just gloss over that detail).
On paper, this is a match heavily tilted in Arsenal’s favor. They are the odds-on favorites to win the league on the back of an elite defense. The Gunners have gone unbeaten in 23 of their last 24 matches against newly-promoted sides, including a win over Leeds this season. Burnley present an interesting challenge for Arteta’s side. They may not be a top club, but they are more than capable of making visiting teams suffer. They play resolute in the back and have punched above their numbers in the attack. It’s a perfect recipe for a let-down if the Gunners aren’t careful. If they have shown anything so far this season, though, it’s an ability to take each match as they come, play smart, and get the results they need.
WHO: Arsenal at Burnley
WHAT: Premier League match day 10
WHEN: Saturday, November 1st, 11:00am EST/8:00am PST/3:00pm GMT
WHERE: Turf Moor, Burnley
HOW TO WATCH: Broadcast live on the USA Network. Streaming on NBCSports.com
For all your international streaming needs, check LiveSoccerTV.com. Please do not share or discuss links to illegal streams here.
