Arsenal: Szczesny, Chambers, Mertesacker, Monreal, Gibbs, Arteta, Flamini, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Cazorla, Alexis, Welbeck
Subs: Martinez, Bellerin, Ramsey, Sanogo, Rosicky, Walcott, Podolski
—
Arsenal got another three points on the board after a challenging but well deserved 3-0 win over a hard working Burnley at the Emirates this afternoon.
Arsene Wenger, perhaps surprisingly, kept faith with the side that beat Sunderland 2-0 last weekend, meaning there was no place for Aaron Ramsey in the midfield, while the only change on the bench was fit again Yaya Sanogo coming in for Joel Campbell.
As the game started it looked very much as if Arsenal were set up in a 442 with Alexis alongside Danny Welbeck up front – perhaps because the opposition were using the same formation.
Typically there was lots of Arsenal possession in the early stages, and Santi Cazorla had the first shot of the game in the 11th minute but his effort was easily saved by Heaton.
Danny Welbeck tried next, running across goal and firing a shot which was blocked out for a corner but perhaps the striker could have laid it off to Oxlade-Chamberlain before shooting. After Cazorla had been cynically fouled by George Boyd, and the Burnley player booked, Alexis hit a free kick on target but the distance from goal meant it was a simple stop for the keeper.
The Scotsman was lucky that referee Craig Pawson didn’t spot his deliberate handball from a Cazorla corner as it would have resulted in a penalty and a second yellow card.
Brilliant play in the 25th minute between Alexis and Oxlade-Chamberlain saw the England man cut a cross back which found Cazorla on the run, but his shot flashed just wide and his Premier League goal drought – which stretches back to January – continued.
There was a moment of danger for the visitors when Flamini intercepted a cross in his own box and but for the fact it went straight at Szczesny it could easily have resulted in an own goal.
Alexis, the match-winner last week, forced a good save from Heaton with a curling effort. From the rebound Oxlade-Chamberlain fed Cazorla but Burnley got bodies in the way to block the shot. The Chilean had another go a couple of moments later, curling a fantastic effort just past the top corner with the goalkeeper desperately trying to get across.
All of Arsenal’s best moments involved the former Barcelona man, and after he won the ball back in midfield, he was played in by Cazorla but Heaton came out to make a good close range save, and to ensure the game remained goalless at the break.
It was crucial Arsenal started the second period well and Oxlade-Chamberlain’s driving run down the right did just that. He pulled the ball back to Mikel Arteta but the skipper’s left-footed shot went high over the bar.
However, there were some moments of danger for Arsenal with Chambers getting an important foot in inside his own box, while Ings almost caught Szczesny in no-man’s land but failed to connect properly.
Oxlade-Chamberlain was providing plenty of thrust down the right and had an effort on goal saved by the keeper after Burnley failed to get a corner clear. The midfielder then saw another shot from distance deflect just past the post with the keeper scrambling.
Arsene Wenger made his first change on the 63 minute mark, putting on Aaron Ramsey for Mikel Arteta, and shortly afterwards Arsenal were denied a goal when Duff made a fantastic block from a Cazorla shot which had rebounded to him just outside the 6 yard box.
The goal was coming though and it will be no surprise that Alexis was the man who put the Gunners ahead. Calum Chambers got the ball out wide from Aaron Ramsey, floated in a decent cross but Alexis ran at it aggressively, jumped and nodded the ball down and into the net. 1-0.
It got better just 2 minutes later. As the ball rebounded around the box from an Arsenal corner, Welbeck’s shot was brilliantly saved by Heaton but the ball fell to Chambers and he prodded it home from close range to double the lead. 2-0.
There were further changes for Arsenal with Lukas Podolski replacing Danny Welbeck and there was a Premier League return for Theo Walcott, making his first appearance since January, as he came on for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Although all eyes were on Walcott, Podolski brought a brilliant save from Heaton with a cracking volley, and the Burnley keeper again showed his quality with a stop from Walcott.
Theo turned provider with a cross to the back post which Podolski absolutely hammered off the post as Arsenal turned the screw in the closing minutes – our sources tell us the woodwork is still vibrating. The German then headed over from an Alexis cross before Ramsey forced yet another save from Heaton with a shot with the outside of his right foot.
The pressure was relentless and it told as Arsenal grabbed a third. Gibbs crossed from the left, Alexis took the ball in his stride in the area, kept it under control and finished from close range to make it 3-0.
In the end a victory Arsenal deserved, another clean sheet and another step in the right direction in terms of the performance.
Sanchez is just on fire!
Sanchez is different class. Phenomenal performance for the full 90 minutes.
Theo looked really sharp when he came on…
The amount of baby batter I’m going to be making tonight because of Theo is going to cause me to lose weight.
Saunders! Good man.
Was too wasted to post in time today. Caught the game at the local pub here in Lagos. Plenty of Arsenal fans (All 3 of us). We were whining all the way till the 70th minute. After the Chambers’ goal, copious amounts of free rounds were passed around, and I’m only just beginning to recover.
There will be boilk tomorrow. But the mere thought of Alexis Alexis should more than make up for it.
:o)
It’s both a delight and a source of anxiety. He shouldn’t be the only one pulling the team up. There has to be more spark from other players if we’re going to achieve our goal (of fourth place…HAAARRR).
Alexis FC vs Burnley.
Period
Cazorla vs Row Z
I disagree, I thought we were pretty solid as a team today, especially considering our makeshift defence. It was all too slow for most of the game, but I thought it was impressive how we really ramped up the pressure in the second half. How many times have we watched Arsenal plod on, then wake up in the 88th minute? At least they really got stuck in while there was still time left to make a difference – credit where credit’s due I say. And some really good performances in there – Chambers is turning into a brilliant player, I… Read more »
Chambers could easily be as good as Philipp Lahm someday
I have high hopes on him! He will be the best in the PL
Woah, there.
He already plays CB better than Lahm does. What he needs to develop most is what Lahm has, though: that uncanny positional sense and ability not to be beaten 1 on 1.
He’s definitely got all the tools to be a top RB, though. That positional sense is something that’s built over time.
Because Alexis got us the clean sheet too, good man, take a seat.
I can’t believe you missed the opportunity to say “Yeahhhhh….. Alexis on fire” Kings of Leon style…
Those halfwits at Sky, the Sunday sport, daily mail, mail on Sunday and every media outlet that are either to incompetant, or lazy… or both, to come up with original content will have that as their headlines tomorrow..
I always thought Blogs was referencing the Canadian hardcore band Alexisonfire…..
Alexis. What a man. http://www.kickoff.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Arsenal-Alexis-Sanchez-Shirtless-TOP-PIC.jpg
It is good to see that Arsenal did not wait till 88th minute to put up much pressure. We were at our best from start of 2nd half. But still that decisive pass is missing. May be when Ozil returns back , we will be really good. We need to make sure that we are not more than 6 points behind Chelsea around January.
The whole “we are X points behind Chelsea” is a load of hype as well. On the stream I watched today they pulled that stat out 3 times within the first 5 minutes of the game. So what if we’re 9 points behind? 10 games played – not even a third of the way through the season. I’m not saying we’re contenders, but if we’re there or thereabouts come the end of January, and *ahem* we get most of our players back from injury, I still think we could have a really good go at it. Chelsea will dip at… Read more »
They’ll get some injuries to ‘key’ players. Hazard has won them a few games, so it wouldn’t surprise me to see someteam like stoke give him a good kicking. Hopefully refs will suss out he’s a diver soon as well.
Costa is already struggling. They beat QPR yesterday but it wasn’t convincing. They’ll slip up sooner or later. The key is not slipping up ourselves in the meantime.
I’m coining the term ‘Chamber-wing’. They looked great together today down the right.
Alexis, get stuck in! I haven’t been that much in love with a man since DB#10.
Later when you stats folks put up stats at the season end.. Please remember the fact that alexis’s shots to goal ratio is most affected by the fact that the rest of the team mostly frustrates him into taking any possible shots. And also us being now accustomed to seeing Alexis give it his all.. All the time. Let us not take that for granted and appreciate it any less, any time just the way barca did. Love you Alexis. Hope you win many with The Arsenal.
Is it too early to suggest that Alexis could rival Ian Wright as my favourite ever Arsenal player…?
In short, yes.
Spoilsport.
Alexis. What a beast.
PHENOMENAL!!!
Alexis, no words to describe this man!
And yet you used one. Mind you won’t argue with the one used, because he really is.
Well maybe I should have clarified because I was actually talking about the performance.
Breaking:
Arsenal confirms that its goal frame that was subject to the podolski’s left foot fury in the second half would be out for at least 2-3 weeks after sustaining a broken right pole…
Typical. We won’t get anywhere with such weak goal posts. We need to buy better in January!
Shad Forsythe, what the actual fuck, sort it out!
You don’t see Chelsea’s posts getting injured that way. Something is wrong with Wenger’s scouting system. All the posts we buy end up being crocked within a week or two.
I wish more of our players would show the heart that Alexis is showing game in and game out. He’s the reason we got three points, MoM. Good to see Theodore back on the pitch. Fuck chelsea.
I think most of our players showed real urgency today. That is the reason, we looked dangerous from start of 2nd itself. If cazorla was on form , we would have scored 1 or 2 goals before Half time.
Chambers, you beautiful man!!!! Hopefully the first of many.
Yess..! Thats how we do it! And.. that strike from Poldi!
Alexis = cups
I am so confused. Always liked women but Alexis made some of my happy goo come out. What does this mean?!?!?!?!
Tell me, are you a man or a woman? Then we can assess this delicate situation here..
Butters, is that you?
Attention all readers..Oxford dictionary has been revised-
Beast(noun): Alexis Sanchez
Alexis being around makes every other Arsenal player look better! What an amazing buy, would never have thought he would be this good this fast. Arsene, we trust.
alexis is absolutely brilliant…the guy never deserves to be on the losing side…he’s going to be our big game player
The most outstanding thing about this match (apart from Sanchez) was how we kept attacking even though we were 2 – 0 up. When did you last see that?
PS: Podolski needs a start based on his cameo. Looked a man on a mission.
Es gibt einen Fussballgott!
Er ist sehr gut… Linken Fuss wie ein Hammer!
Poldi always plays better when he comes on as a sub and only has part of the game to use 100% of his effort.
The problem with Podolski is he always looks like he needs a start based on his cameo. Then you give him a start, and usually he does nothing for 60 minutes before being hauled off.
He really seems like a genuine super-sub type player. I’m sure if someone ran the stats you’d see he probably does more in his 20 minute sub performances than in a typical 60 minute start.
The King of London is Chilean.
Positives from this match:
1. Three points
2. Clean Sheet
3. Alexis the Sanchez
4. Theo
5. Flying Thor Hammer
6. The Ox’s crossing
7. Chambo’s 1st goal
I was against genetic cloning.
And then Alexis.
In all seriousness though, Ok, we aren’t gelling yet and things arent clicking but I can’t see us not winning a title in the next couple years with Alexis. Still cannot believe we got him. Suarez had a year or so to adapt before he started ripping it and I fully expect Alexis can replicate the 31 goals and 15 assists that Suarez got last year and overall we have a much better squad then Liverpool did. The future is bright my fellow Gooners.
Well he’s already got 10 goals from 12 appearances…
Holy shit, that was the most spectacular should-have-been-a-hattrick-but-it-ended-up-being-zero-goals ever from Poldi.
#should-have-been-a-hattrick-but-it-ended-up-being-zero-goals #aha #redarmy
I say this with all due respect, but, I think Alexis is so involved, beastmode that other players just become passengers at times; like the first half.
agree. but players like theo and alexis and wilshire will not stand by while he makes all the headlines, i think long un is he forces them to raise their game. and some point in their careers they’ve been the only bight spark in the squad, so they’ll know how alexis feels. they’ll be keen to show him he’s not the only star. can;t wait.
*players like theo and AARON and wilshire
Alexis! Wow. Do we have a player on our hands?!!!
Don’t know what else to say about Alexis. Just awesome.
Also honourable mention for Chambers, today and against Anderlecht it was his assist that got us the first goal we desperately needed. A nice knack, hope it continues.
There was that point in the summer where everyone was clamoring to buy Aurier because of the assists he’d provide from RB then we bought Debuchy instead. We seem to have got an RB capable of providing assists anyway.
Poldi-Welbz-Alexis-Walcott with the influx of creativity behind them will be unstoppable.
It is looking like things are slowly beginning to click. Good subs by the manager today.
We saw a glimpse of a potential Ballon d’Or winner
Alright calm down lads hahaha
last 30 minutes or so were pure bliss, jeseus, what a contrast with the utter shite before.
I’m still happy though, it’s been a while since I felt this good after an Arsenal game. THEOOOOOO!!
why can’t we play like the last 20 minutes every time? if we could only do that with all players at the back fit. we will be unstoppable. and i also will like to see wenger try playing podolski, sanchez and walcott
Alexis is worth Ozil’s price tag, not sure Ozil is worth Alexis’s price.
Why is Carzola seldon replaced, i thought Ox should have stayed on and Carzola off.
Welcome back Theophilous Walcott.
I’m sorry, I’m sure there’s a good point in there but the way you spell Cazorla just reminds me of Jamie Redknapp, so all I can hear is his voice saaying it.
I’d say it’s because of all the good stuff that Santi does, if we get him training for an extra hour a week just practicing his shooting he would be so dangerous, but as is he’s just an incredibly useful player.
Remember what Wenger said when Giroud was not scoring for a long time?
“He is getting into those positions. I would be more worried if he wasn’t getting into those positions”
Cazorla is class. Today his shots just didn’t go in. He wasn’t that bad on the pitch today! And Ox out and Theo in..? I guess he was just going with a like-for-like replacement!
Ozil anonymous again.
You can see that Sanchez magic is starting to rub off on the team. There’s a hunger growing in all of our players. Monreal, Chamberlain, Welbeck, Chambers and Gibbs all starting to really drive on. I can sense a desire in this team. And I like it.
Winning breeds confidence, and that’s what you’re seeing. When you’re confident you want the ball and try that little (but noticeable) harder to get it and to use it well.
Better.
The difference between our team with confidence and without it is almost a caricature, happy to see us starting to click a little better though.
Alexis fucking Sanchez. Happy for the lad Chambers, first goal and he played very well delivered a beauty for Sanchezs header. Quite solid today and could have scored 10 on another day. THEOS BACCKKKCK and he had quite a cameo..A few bits of trickery, a trademark run and a couple of decent crosses and a good strike..So happy his directness is back. Thought Podolski was also really positive when he came on aswel, a few trademark power strikes of death..Looked hungrier than his other appearances. Slightly worried with Santis continuing poor form..One of our best when he is firing so… Read more »
I feel sorry for Alexis Sanchez Girlfriend ..I really Do
Huh?
…why?
becoz he keeps on goin !!
My GF would love it, if I could do that!
alexis would freak her out 2
Overall a good and important win. That said, Alexis aside, there are a lot of things that were wrong today. The starting eleven was too defensive, why play two holding midfielders at home to arguably the worst side in the league. No coincidence we were better offensively when a sub was made. As well as that, the piss poor attempts at corners is amateur stuff. You would really have to question how much work they do in training. Cazorla’s misses could well have been costly, and it highlights Wengers stubbornness or loyalty that players like Podolski or Rosicky don’t get… Read more »
Come on.. enjoy the moment. for once!
I’m not begrudging the win, twas vital, just feel the negatives out way positives at the moment. Hopefully we nick a few games and the performance will pick up, but at the moment its hard to see. Time will tell.
Cannot agree with you there – two holding midfielders is exactly what we need right now, yes even against bottom half teams. We have firepower upfront, and the goals will come – the problem is conceding weak goals and dropping points against the likes of Leicester and Hull. Besides, when we play one holding midfielder usually the ball comes to Arteta, he looks around, passes to the full back, who passes it to the centre back, who passes it back to Arteta, rinse and repeat.
Much prefer two holding midfielders to that nonsense.
1) don’t change a winning team when you’re trying to build team confidence
2) when you’re not playing your 1st choice back 4 and trying to build team moral a slightly more defensive midfield is a benefit until you’ve forced the opposition to do more than park the bus with the hope of a counter attack goal.
Le_Downer
Got 3 points and a nice cleansheet.
Sanchez, top 5 Wenger purchases. Singlehandedly keeping us afloat.
3-0 win, Walcott returns, and no injuries. I don’t want to see a single complaint!
Should have had a penalty. Wenger out.
“beyond understanding” is that a Nordic name or something?
If the real reason Arsene bypassed Fab was the availability of Alexis, then I am with the manager on that one. A fantastic buy he is.
A major candidate for the player of the season at this stage.
Good second half display generally.
I see so many crossings in this match. Arsenal are more direct and didn’t dwell too much on the ball. Me likey. And Alexis! Please..
I’m annoyed with the red for not awarding a penalty and marching orders for Boyd.
And that keeper, what a game to have! Soo frustrating. Imagine what the score line wouldn’t been with the space of 10 men. They’ve ruined my motd viewing for later.
Jk, brilliant performance. But we are Arsenal fans. Be wrong not to complain about something right?
Alexis is the definition of a matchwinner. Brilliant.
We’ve just laboured to beat a the worst side in the Premier League. I’m sorry but I can’t get too excited.
It’s a good thing that this season’s PL is full of average or rubbish teams: we’ll get fourth but no more.
Even if Arseblog provided a feature to thumb up your own post, you wouldn’t be able to do that!
the sky is falling
Ahhhh…..Fat’s back!
Great game!
Alexisonfire!!!!! I’ll allow him to have my babies!! Loved Theo when he came on thought he looked great and so chuffed for Chambers! Goal and an assist!
Who ate all the pies? Who ate all the pies? 32 shots at goal with 13 on target is hardly laboured.
My son says Alexis has to be in 3 or 4 players in the world at the moment and i would have to agree
Finally a result without any negatives. Villa? We beat them in 3 mins. Galatasaray? Yeah well… they only came for the flares. City? We looked good, took the lead and lost Debuchy. Anderlecht? Was all about the banter up until the very end. This? Clean sheet, ALEXIS, Ox looked sharp, clean sheet and victory vs a team that came to park the bus…onwards and upwards!
I should qualify this comment with I’m beyond pissed, so yeah. If I’m on about cack, I apologise. I’m done proofreading so COYG!
Alexis. Half man, half nuclear reactor.
Alexis is looking like a future Arsenal great. I haven’t been this excited about an Arsenal player since…. well, Henry.
Fuck, he just keeps going. Theo looked sharp as hell,too.
Honorable mentions go to the whole team who played pretty well too.
Oh, and Podolski. The guy just needs more fucking games and he’ll produce.
up the arse!!