MX23RW : Friday, December 18 11:10:51| >> :120:3720:3720:

Preview: Arsenal vs. Burnley - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Sunday's Premier League clash between Arsenal and Burnley, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Arsenal will be aiming to kickstart their Premier League campaign when they welcome Burnley to the Emirates Stadium on Sunday evening.

The Gunners enter the weekend's games down in 15th, just three places better off than Burnley in the final relegation spot.


Match preview

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta pictured on November 22, 2020© Reuters

Mikel Arteta will be hoping that last weekend's 2-0 loss to rivals Tottenham Hotspur is the lowest point of Arsenal's campaign.

After all, it cannot get much worse, this being the Gunners' lowest points return after 11 league games since the 1981-82 campaign.

Arsenal have also lost to Liverpool, Manchester City, Leicester City, Aston Villa and Wolverhampton Wanderers in their last nine outings - their worst spell since April 1995.

The honeymoon period for Arteta, which saw him win the FA Cup and Community Shield in August, is over and the pressure is seriously on the Spaniard to get things right.

Scoring goals has been the biggest issue for the North London outfit, with only the bottom three sides - including next opponents Burnley - netting fewer than Arsenal's 10 goals.

Arsenal also have an issue on home soil, having lost each of their last three Premier League matches at the Emirates Stadium. Not since December 1959 have they lost four in a row.

Chris Wood celebrates with teammates after scoring for Burnley against Crystal Palace in the Premier League on November 23, 2020© Reuters

That run, incidentally, included a defeat against Burnley in mid-December, and the Clarets will see this as an opportunity to end their barren streak away to the Gunners.

Sean Dyche's charges have lost all six of their away Premier League meetings with Arsenal - their worst 100% record away to a single side in the competition.

Burnley have not exactly been in great form themselves, either, winning just one of their opening 10 matches, with that coming at home to Crystal Palace a few weeks ago.

They have since lost 5-0 to Manchester City and drawn 1-1 with Everton, seeing them slip below Fulham into the relegation zone.

Dyche may be correct when he says it is not the time for his side to panic, having been in this position before, but supporters may start to grow restless should Sunday's game end in another loss.

Arsenal Premier League form: LWLDLL
Arsenal form (all competitions): DWLWLW

Burnley Premier League form: LLDWLD


Team News

Arsenal's Thomas Partey in action against Rapid Vienna in the Europa League on October 22, 2020© Reuters

Arsenal made it six wins from six in the Europa League with their midweek victory over Dundalk, Arteta making a full 11 changes for that dead rubber.

Nicolas Pepe was one of the more experienced players to feature at the Aviva Stadium, but is serving the last of a three-game domestic ban this weekend.

Thomas Partey sustained a recurrence of a thigh injury against Spurs last time out in the league and will miss this game, while Sead Kolasinac, David Luiz and Reiss Nelson are doubtful.

Arteta must decide whether to use Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang through the middle, if at all, with the striker boasting seven goals in five games against Burnley - his best return against any opponent in the competition.

As for the visitors, Jack Cork is definitely out of this match and four others are doubtful, including Robbie Brady and Dale Stephens.

Brady is to be assessed ahead of the game and, should he be deemed fit enough, it may be a case of Dyche sticking with the same XI as he used against Everton.

Arsenal possible starting lineup:
Leno; Bellerin, Holding, Gabriel, Tierney; Ceballos, Xhaka; Willian, Lacazette, Saka; Aubameyang

Burnley possible starting lineup:
Pope; Lowton, Tarkowski, Mee, Taylor; Brady, Westwood, Brownhill, McNeil; Rodriguez, Wood


SM words green background

We say: Arsenal 2-1 Burnley

Arsenal are seemingly setting another new unwanted record on a weekly basis this season and know that this is as close to a must-win game as it gets.

They have taken one point from the last 12 on offer in the Premier League and have lost three in a row on home soil.

Burnley have themselves struggled this term and have never come away from the Emirates Stadium with a point, so we are backing the Gunners to end their disappointing run.


Top betting tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting under 3.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Under 3.5:data


ID:426108:cQx

Who will win Sunday's Premier League clash between Arsenal and Burnley?

Arsenal
75.0%
Draw
15.3%
Burnley
9.7%
248
Share this article now:
Did you know...?
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta pictured on November 22, 2020
Read Next:
Sean Dyche welcomes under-fire Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta to the "jungle"
>
Latest Sports Video
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.

rhs 2.0
Todays Game Header Right
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool1384129191028
2Tottenham HotspurSpurs1374225121325
3Southampton137332518724
4Leicester CityLeicester138052417724
5Everton137242318523
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd127232219323
7Chelsea1364326141222
8West Ham UnitedWest Ham136342116521
9Manchester CityMan City125521812620
10Wolverhampton WanderersWolves136251317-420
11Aston Villa116142113819
12Crystal Palace135351918118
13Leeds UnitedLeeds135262224-217
14Newcastle UnitedNewcastle125251621-517
15Arsenal134271116-514
16Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton132561521-611
17Burnley12246618-1210
18Fulham132381222-109
19West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom131481026-167
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd130112724-171

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Transfer Talk Daily
Match previews - twice weekly
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
Ultra close-up image of Kevin De Bruyne [NOT FOR USE IN ARTICLES]Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!