LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 17: Alexandre Lacazette of Arsenal celebrates after scoring his team’s first goal with Ainsley Maitland-Niles during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Burnley FC at Emirates Stadium on August 17, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Arsenal hosted Burnley in their season-opening match at the Emirates Stadium at Saturday lunchtime. Here are five things we learned from the 2-1 win.
Arsenal opened their Premier League campaign at the Emirates with a 2-1 victory over Burnley. After squeezing past Newcastle United last weekend, the Gunners started the season two wins from two before two difficult matches against Liverpool and Spurs loom. The goals came from Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, predictably, and the defence held strong, just, under a bombardment of high balls.
Here are five things we learned from the 2-1 victory.
LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 17: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Arsenal scores his team’s second goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Burnley FC at Emirates Stadium on August 17, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
5. The strikers continue where they left off
Last season, Arsenal were a mid-table Premier League team with two world-class centre-forwards. They were frequently bailed out by the pair, who scored more than 40 goals in all competitions. And this season, this pair of elite strikers has continued right where they left off, scoring all of the Gunners’ goals.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang notched the only goal against Newcastle last weekend. This time around, his partner, Alexandre Lacazette, opened the scoring before he finishing it off in the second half. Both goals were excellently taken, Lacazette showing terrific strength, control and a clinical streak to turn and finish and Aubameyang lashing a razor strike from the edge of the penalty area midway through the second period.
Arsenal are a better team than they were last season — more on this later. The strikers have more support around them. But this team will go as far as the strikers can take them, and based on their showings thus far, that might well be a long way.
Arsenal opened their Premier League campaign at the Emirates with a 2-1 victory over Burnley. After squeezing past Newcastle United last weekend, the Gunners started the season two wins from two before two difficult matches against Liverpool and Spurs loom. The goals came from Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, predictably, and the defence held strong, just, under a bombardment of high balls.</p>
<h2><a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2019/08/17/arsenal-vs-burnley-5-things-learned-modern-midfield/"https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/pain-in-the-arsenal-podcast-on-arsenal-fc/id1314514440?ign-mpt=uo%3D4%26amp%3Buo%3D4&mt=2%22>Find the latest episode of the Pain in the Arsenal Podcast here — Dani Ceballos, the Best Player in the World</a></h2>
<p>Here are five things we learned from<a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2019/08/17/arsenal-vs-burnley-5-things-learned-modern-midfield/"https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/football/48682554"> the 2-1 victory</a>.</p>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-91482" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2019/08/17/arsenal-vs-burnley-5-things-learned-modern-midfield/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1168572505-850x560.jpeg" alt="" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 17: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Arsenal scores his team’s second goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Burnley FC at Emirates Stadium on August 17, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)</p>
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<h4>5. The strikers continue where they left off</h4>
<p>Last season, Arsenal were a mid-table Premier League team with two world-class centre-forwards. They were frequently bailed out by the pair, who scored more than 40 goals in all competitions. And this season, this pair of elite strikers has continued right where they left off, scoring all of the Gunners’ goals.</p>
<p>Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang notched the only goal against Newcastle last weekend. This time around, his partner, Alexandre Lacazette, opened the scoring before he finishing it off in the second half. Both goals were excellently taken, Lacazette showing terrific strength, control and a clinical streak to turn and finish and Aubameyang lashing a razor strike from the edge of the penalty area midway through the second period.</p>
<p>Arsenal are a better team than they were last season — more on this later. The strikers have more support around them. But this team will go as far as the strikers can take them, and based on their showings thus far, that might well be a long way.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2019/08/17/arsenal-vs-burnley-5-things-learned-modern-midfield/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 4. Defending crosses </a>
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<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 17: David Luiz of Arsenal clrears the ball under pressure from Jack Cork of Burnley during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Burnley FC at Emirates Stadium on August 17, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)</p>
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<h4>4. Defending crosses</h4>
<p>Burnley do not surprise you with how they are going to attack. They have two physical, bullying centre-forwards lead the line and bombard you with crosses from deep and wide areas. They are unapologetically old fashioned, and it is an extremely effective way of playing. So Arsenal knew what to expect when they wandered back into the Emirates stadium at Saturday lunchtime.</p>
<p>That preparation, though, seemingly did not help. As a collective defensive unit, the Gunners had little clue of how to deal with the size of Chris Wood and Ashley Barnes. They failed to challenge either in the air, a lack of height a major weakness of the team, but compounded this by repeatedly failing to win second balls and not putting pressure on the crosses into the box.</p>
<p>When you provide decent players with time to deliver to big strikers, the end result is somewhat inevitable. And predictably, that is precisely what happened. Burnley actually out-shot Arsenal in the first half, scoring the equaliser from a deflected cross into the box. There were plenty of positives from this performance, but Unai Emery and his team must learn how to defend crosses if they are to take the next level.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2019/08/17/arsenal-vs-burnley-5-things-learned-modern-midfield/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 3. The exciting youth </a>
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<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 17: Matteo Guendouzi of Arsenal is tackled by Ashley Westwood of Burnley during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Burnley FC at Emirates Stadium on August 17, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)</p>
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<h4>3. The exciting youth</h4>
<p>As soon as the line-ups were announced an hour before kick-off, there was a sense of excitement reverberating throughout the Emirates. This was a young, vibrant, modern team, one that looks starkly different to that of last season.</p>
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<p>The midfield three consisted of a 20-year-old, 19-year-old and 23-year-old. The front three was the two brilliant strikers and a 19-year-old sensation, with a club-record signing introduced at half-time. 21-year-old Ainsley Maitland-Niles started at right-back once more. Moreover, three academy graduates started for the second game in succession.</p>
<p>Reiss Nelson might not have had the best 45 minutes, but the talent is undeniable; Dani Ceballos is only in north London on a temporary basis, but he will be the beating heart of the midfield this year; Joe Willock and Matteo Guendouzi were excellent and will be joined by a 23-year-old Lucas Torreira.</p>
<p>This team is obviously not a complete one, and there are serious questions to be asked of the defence in particular. But it is an extremely exciting one. There is much to be positive about at present, even if Arsenal proceed to lose against both Liverpool and Spurs in the coming weeks.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2019/08/17/arsenal-vs-burnley-5-things-learned-modern-midfield/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 2. Dani Ceballos is a baller </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-91467" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2019/08/17/arsenal-vs-burnley-5-things-learned-modern-midfield/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1168561074-850x560.jpeg" alt="" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 17: Dani Ceballos of Arsenal is closed down by Ashley Westwood of Burnley during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Burnley FC at Emirates Stadium on August 17, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)</p>
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<h4>2. Dani Ceballos is a baller</h4>
<p>Dani Ceballos made his full Arsenal debut on Saturday. He played just short of half-an-hour last weekend but was deemed ready to start from the off with Granit Xhaka out injured this time around. And in his first start for the club, the Spaniard showed what he is truly capable of.</p>
<p>In the first half, Ceballos completed 100% of his take-ons, had the most completed passes, the most ball recoveries, the most chances created, the most fouls won, and assisted the Alexandre Lacazette’s opener. He was everywhere, and was extremely positive in almost all that he did. And the best part of his play: pressing the ball, which is precisely what he did to set up Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the second half.</p>
<p>It is easy to make comparisons to Santi Cazorla. His dribbling qualities, his balance and agility, his range of passing, the desire to conduct play by getting on the ball as frequently as possible. Ceballos is a true modern, mobile, creative and controlling midfielder. He is precisely what Arsenal needed.</p>
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<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 17: David Luiz of Arsenal and James Tarkowski of Burnley clash during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Burnley FC at Emirates Stadium on August 17, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)</p>
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<h4>1. A mobile midfield</h4>
<p>I have written extensively about the need for Arsenal’s central midfield options to adapt to the modern game and develop with the changing patterns of play. Gone are the well-defined roles of a midfield with a destroyer and creator pairing together. The need for versatility, control, press-releasing play, and, most importantly, mobility, is great.</p><div class="widget fs_ads"> <div class="fs_ad_widget-ad" style="margin:0 auto; width: 300px;"> <div class="fs-ll-ad" data-ad-type="minutemedia_slideshow_inline_300x250__desktop__tablet" data-vendor="minutemedia">
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<p>It is not a coincidence that Granit Xhaka was the man missing from the central midfield trio on this occasion. Xhaka has his qualities, of course, but he is much better suited to a continental — or old fashioned — style of play, where the ball is moved slower and there is less pressure on the ball. In the high-pressing modern game, mobility and athleticism is crucial, and Xhaka has neither.</p>
<p>Contrast that to Matteo Guendouzi, Dani Ceballos and especially Joe Willock, as well as Lucas Torreira who came on in the closing stages. All have a decent degree of speed and can cover ground throughout the 90 minutes. Xhaka cannot.</p>
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<p>Arsenal played well here, even if the result does not quite reflect that. And much of their excellent play stemmed from the midfield, which did not have Granit Xhaka as a part of it.</p><!—pageview_candidate—></p>">
