Unai Emery says his players had prepared for a physical afternoon against Burnley as Arsenal got back to winning ways with a 3-1 victory at the Emirates.
A clinical brace from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang set up the victory although it wasn’t until Alex Iwobi’s stoppage time third that the Gunners were able to relax.
Having lost their unbeaten run last weekend, the home side had a wobble after Ashley Barnes reduced the deficit but did just enough to secure the points.
“We expected that [a physical battle],” Emery told Sky Sports.
“We prepared the match for their moments with long balls, second action pushing, they have also players with quality but we wanted to win the first balls with the duels.
“They have attacking players who created problems for us in the match. Then we needed to impose our planned game, but we couldn’t do it for the 90 minutes, but we worked very well today.
“It was a tough match, like we were expecting. We’re really happy for the victory.
Physically, that’s football. You need to be strong and we can do that. All the big teams need to impose with quality, with physicality and also with the duels. Today, I think we can impose in our moment the planned game and the victory is a consequence of this.
Sean Dyche in his post-game comments accused Arsenal’s players of diving to win free-kicks at key moments of the game. Emery, naturally, jumped to the defence of his men.
“I am not agreeing with him [Dyche]. I am for the first time in the Premier League and we need respect for the referee.”
The boss also reserved a word for Mesut Ozil, who played a vital role in both the first and last goals.
“Ozil played very well, we want a Mesut like today,” he said.
“Today we won, tomorrow we have off then we will prepare for the next game against Brighton.”
Dyche is a tool, Ozil is a class player, glad to have him back.
City and Chelsea losing, hope that continues.
Brilliant, it has!
For the next few matches I mean. Liverpool and Sp*rs too
ozil had, NO effect on the game, he had a 4 out of 10 performance game, at home to 2nd from bottom burnley, I don’t think you can call that class
What on earth would you know about class?
He’s a troll. Don’t feed him.
I actually think he is Jack in disguise, going by his rants from back when we still had Wilshere.
He was instrumental in 2 of the goals and played a true captain’s part. He worked hard and was very physical too. We know you don’t rate him so you will never see the good in him. To me a 7 out of 10 performance.
You’re a long way from Wembley…
A foul in Dyche’s mentality is a full blown kick in the head. What a fucking whinger.
Unless it’s John Terry’s face.
Emery & Ozil is no Mourinho vs Pogba situation. Both the gunners men have more sense for starters.
Absolutely. Emery giving him the armband and Özil delivering for 2 of the 3 goals.
Mourinho, the specialist in unemployment, could never.
Mourinho is a cunt.
A large lady flower he is Sr
Ozil is an issue. Why are u so blinded. The fact that his salary is mentioned is an issue. Im surprised guendouzi respects him
I’m always surprised by idiot comments by our so called supporters
What are your thoughts Martin on our ‘so called supporters’ who categorically state Leno is going to cost us loads of points cos ‘he’s just not good enough?
If he doesn’t improve on his handling of crosses he will cost us points. However I thought he was good today. I didn’t say one can’t criticise a player but not unfairly as Rich did
So to sum up…it’s ok to criticise players you don’t like but not ones you do ? Or only if they criticise within your whatever your definition of ‘unfair’ is ?
Leno made an a very important save and kept us level, our defense is the one that has issues in my eyes not the keeper!
“Why are u so blinded”
Isn’t that a song by Prince?
WTF does this even mean?
It must mean something
Maybe it’s one of those code breaker puzzles.
It is not the same as a Mourinho V Pogba situation true. But, what is interesting is the reasoning behind Emery’s selection of Ozil. He said the Spuds game was “too physical for Ozil”. If so then what the hell was he doing playing him against that fouling rabble? No for me it’s tactics. Is it that if Emery wants to play a certain way he feels it’s not going to suite Ozil, then he doesn’t play him? If so I think he got it wrong against the scum last week. We needed creativity which Ozil brings. I though he… Read more »
Sean Dyche accusing other players of diving is rich, considering how reliant on soft free kicks and rotational fouling his cloggers are. Hoping they’re relegated this season.
Utter nob that guy. Their rabble are nasty, cunning fowler’s. That Barnes blockhead fouled a player with pretty much every touch. Get some perspective Dyche.
On another note altogether… Anyone else think Dyche looks like one of the cat-nappers out of the Church Mice books by Graham Oakley?! ?
I hope they stay up. We always best them. Would rather see Southampton go down. They take too many points from us.
Has Emery figured out this Ozil thing? Surely he can’t have. If he has, damn, that is some impressive management on the edge.
Completely agree with this. He seems to be incredibly shrewd in his judgement of the situation, to the benefit of the team.
Don’t mean to burst your bubble but this was a really poor Burnley side at home. Ozil ain’t out of the woods yet, though his performance today will do him no harm. Let’s see this Ozil at Anfield in a week’s time.
Didn’t mean to suggest Ozil is in world-conquering form.
I just assumed that he was going to continue not playing, except in emergencies when we’re chasing a game or something, and that we are at the beginning of a saga.
It’s still quite possible that we are, but the fact that he’s started a game and found praise from the manager is atleast a step in the right direction.
Looks a step in the right direction for sure but who knows? All I’m saying is it will be interesting to see if he’s used at Anfield. It could be that Ozil was central to Emery’s plans all along and leaving him out of the side to face Spurs was just an attempt to gee him up. But if you take Emery at his word, and leaving Ozil out was “tactical”, then that suggests he might only pick Ozil against very defensive sides looking to knick a point, rather than the big teams who’ll come after us. Hopefully we’ll have… Read more »
? Ozil played quite well against Liverpool at the Emirates. We totally bossed the possession and gave them a hell of a match, could’ve won it. Ozil was instrumental and especially in the first half he had them soiling their shorts.
So yeah, the “doesn’t show up for the big matches” isn’t true.
“Ozil was instrumental and especially in the first half he had them soiling their shorts.” Ok that’s more than a little revisionist and disingenuous, isn’t it? From what I recall he played ok but wasn’t amazing. And Blogs even gave him a 6/10 in the player ratings, saying “Ozil-ish in a big game”. https://arseblog.news/2018/11/arsenal-1-1-liverpool-player-ratings/ And even if he was exceptional in that game (and he wasn’t) that would only be the exception that proved the rule. He was as bad as anyone against City and Chelsea, and absent for Sp*rs and United. Now I’m not saying he’s never played well… Read more »
Go back and watch that first half. Not disingenuous or revisionist at all. He should have had a couple of assists before halftime.
Well that’s a sucesful Saturday… 3 points at home, Chelsea lost, Man City lost, hopefully Cardiff will put Man U in their place now.
On another note, I’m fu*king disgusted with some of the fans in the comments sections (not specifically here) giving absolute rubbish to Emery, calling names etc etc. After 22 unbeaten & two unfortune losses in a row, instead of supporting him they gave him abuse. Grow up, can’t expect him to do miracles when we’ve been hit with such injuries in our back line. Rant over lol
Merry Xmas y’all. Have a good one.
Sadly we have some or the most toxic fans in the country. Knee jerk reactions without thought. I know they are in a minority but it’s sickening
you just can’t take them seriously, some of it is very embarrassing though. kremlin bots perhaps….?
Martin – agree its sickening & hoesntly makes my blood boil.
But could be worse, if you want to have a good laugh go on to Man City page and read the comments on their posts. Mahrez brought some quality fans with him. Nevertheless, it’s entertaining lol!
* Blogs, minor issue, name changes when I write a new comment & when I reply to a comment? From Pkub to Pkk, I guess just a minor glitch?
Totally agree and Merry Christmas to you as well!
Very true. Emery has come in to an Arsenal team that can’t defend and if it wasn’t for Sokratis the situation would be worse. Emery needs time and patience to address this defence. This won’t be fixed overnight.
in Rob Holding Emery seemed to find the kind of defender that fits his style, his injury has given us problems, thats rubbish luck, nothing Emery can do about it
Emery is a class act and he’s exceeding expectations, he needs to be given time, if he gets us into the top4? He will have performed a minor miracle.
Really hope the club back him with a couple of shrewd signings in January.
About 10 years ago I had the misfortune of having to work with an utter moron of a man utd fan who confided in me that he and others were flooding Arsenal boards in order to turn Arsenal fans on each other.
Now, he was a giant sad twat so although I thought him capable of it I never really believed him, but I’ve always wondered.
That thought has crossed my mind too +though not centered on Man U).
I have really started liking this man. He looks well planned and always says the right words.
Hope he gets the team he wants to create. With Chelsea and Man City home loss, it feels no team is invincible today.
COYG!!!!!
In the meantime, Citey and Chelski had fun at home….?
Monreal apart, this looks si far like a good wknd at the office!
Emery Xmas All!!
Ozil should definitely play in all our home games. Away games, can live without him.
There is a touch of the bastard to emery that seems to be permeating through the squad as well. I like it haha.
I suppose Guendouzi “dived” while having his chest stepped on, eh Sean?
Dyche needs to stfu and worry about his own team. Nothing but a cheap Stoke rip off.
I’m fascinated by the Ozil situation. Because no-one’s said anything explicitly to make sense of it all anyone can do is speculate, and it makes sense to speculate there’s a rift between Ozil and Emery… only there’s absolutely no sign that that’s the case. Look how happy Ozil was when Iwobi scored. That’s not a man who’s unhappy with his situation – on the contrary, Ozil’s body language when he’s played this season has been as relaxed and joyful as I’ve ever really seen him. Nor has he at any point spoken out against the manager, nor the manager against… Read more »
I have been wondering if Ozil has been having serious emotional issues. We know football players are not immune to this, and Ozil has had a horrendous time in the past six months relating to his whole identity–a hero in his country who then had much of the country turn on him in the most abusive and psychologically destructive manner possible. I don’t have any special knowledge about this, but it would help explain both the mysterious illnesses and absences, and the joy he displays when he does play. Some of Emery’s decisions that seem absolutely bizarre make sense as… Read more »
Dont kno why this hasn’t been discussed by any punditry team. They seem to love the pantomine and gossip.
Depth isn’t exactly something pundits are renowned for.
Dyche’s team were quite obviously told to rough us up in the 2nd half.
There was one particular nasty incident where one of their oafs kneed Guendouzi in the spine ‘accidentally on purpose’ during an aerial challenge.
If anything our players didn’t complain enough, Matteo gets fouled constantly in our games, it’s pretty clear he’s targeted, I’m slightly worried for him actually as it reminds me of exactly how a young Jack Wilshire used to be totally unprotected by refs.
He’s a big strong lump though. And he also seems capable of handling it back. For his young age he is surprisingly fearless and mature.
The oaf you are referencing was the same prick that tried to stick Papa in a headlock…how that cunt was still on the pitch to score is a fucking mystery.
That was Ashley Barnes again. No way he should have been on the field long enough to get to a substitution. Should’ve seen second yellow on at least 2 other occasions. And the same one who later put his cleats on Guendouzi’s chest.
The other I thought beyond the pale was Dyche complaining about a foul called when some cunt came running full tilt at Xhaka and put his arm straight into the back of his head.
Dyche is a gravel mouthed twat. That is all.
What I realized again was our awful defence. Always struggling to defend properly? Our buildup play was almost nonexistent –> hard times for the midfield to shine. So all in all I think we lack defensive qualities. Other than that we should buy a quality winger.
I dont want ozil. He was wanting the whole game. Lazy and half arsed. Liverpool got players ready to die for klopp. We need rabiott and douglas costs
Douglas does indeed cost. None of Liverpool’s players would die for Klopp. They’re just three seasons in to his methods. It didn’t click straight away up there.
So the fact he was involved in two of the goals means nothing. He has never been lazy and worked as hard as any other player as he usually does. On this form he srmtill has An important part to play this season
I’ve been harsh on Ozil myself. And I will continue to be as long as he has a strop while taking in more money weekly than most people do in a decade.
But he was great today. Feed to Kola, then forcing a 3 on 1 with an advance and a shot. He put in a damn good shift.
Because no one creates more harmony in the changing room than Rabiot.
Try again. Ozil made both of Auba’s goals.
None of u farts mention the men of the hour. Socratis aubameyang and sead
Why talk about their good performances when we can talk about Ozil, Ozil, Ozil
If #11 can get with the program and just put his beefs aside to enjoy the lifelong dream of millions, getting rich playing soccer, we’d all be better off.
Dyche is a wanker, next.
#10 now
If we plauly ozil againsy pool we will loose. We need mhki and torreira to start
Please go away !
Maybe we would loose against Ozil Againsy Pool. But why worry about a team that doesn’t excist?
You’re an idiot! and Are you Paul Daniels senile uglier evil twin?
I think it’s Ashley Barnes.
Ozil is more efficient than Mhki. No argument
I just don’t get it….
Still a lot of negative comments on a day like this. We will loose next time Ozil play against a big team etc. bla bla….
Why not enjoy the victory and chill.
Cheers and have Emery Christmas
I listened to Dyche’s post-game interview, and he is either massively deluded or one of the biggest liars in the game. He is, in either case, one enormous dick. His name shall henceforth be Sam Douche.
I really like how our players stand up for each other now. Kolasinac is a tank and when he runs into defend his mates the opposition soon look for the exits. I also love Socratis. There’s a devilment in his play that makes me smile. Re the diving, I’ve not watched the game back but there are occasions when Guendouzi gets his body between the ball and an opponent and falls down. It is quite annoying as he will nit always win the free and will simply concede possession or get booked for diving ir grabbing the ball. There’s a… Read more »
Sean Dyche is a pillock.
How the Ref did not send Barnes off is beyond me.
Guendouzi did not make a meal of being stepped on or Barnes would have been off. Too honest our young Frenchman.
Burnley offerd not much beyond hurly burly.
BUT we had to be tough to hang in this game so kudos to our players for showing the fight including (YES) Ozil.
Good and vital 3 points, Auba back to being “world Class” and top of the pops.
If Burnley are relegated, they won’t be missed.
Ozil : Well well… as I mentioned, we should wait to this weekend to see if there is any fire to the ‘smoke’ being blown by the spurious press and some people who want to believe those stories. Didn’t see anything wrong with Mesut. In fact it is a BONUS to have some one of his capability. I’ve said it before, I’d much rather keep Ozil AND Ramsey and sell Mhkitaryan. Involved for two goals today, showed some fight and spirit leading the team, not sure why some want to be rid of him so easily unless their minds are… Read more »
Remember them touting Dyche for the Arsenal job this time last year. The guy is worse than Pulis and that other fat fucker. At least they know they play orc shite football, Dyche thinks he is revolutionary, the cunt.
‘Remember them touting Dyche for the Arsenal job this time last year’
That is simply a massive lie. Come on man; I know in this Trump led world most things goes in terms of truth but please. Have some dignity.
You have some dignity and fact check before questioning mine..A simple “Dyche Arsenal Merson” into google…It was his suggestion but ALOT of the media latched onto it.
I have to agree with Kwame here. I have no memory of the Ginger Sideline Strangler ever being suggested for any job at Arsenal.
You guys seriously dont remember the english media pushing for Dyche because we were really bad defensively and he had Burnley at the time barely conceding. Around the time when they were saying english managers dont get top 6 club opportunites. I was disgusted that one of them was Merson.
I don’t but it wouldn’t surprise me. I mean the English media is the English media. Best ignored.
As long as no or at least not too many fans were suggesting him.
The other thing that continuously baffles me is the short corner routine. What discernable advantage did we derive from playing the short corner that eventually went all the way back to Leno. Any advantage was lost with the opponents already telegraphed to our intentions. At one point instead of conspiring to play side to side in days gone by, we were playing front to back. Any high pressing game will present opportunities to get behind the press in the open spaces. We switched to a supporting brace behind the main striker in Iwobi and Ozil precisely to counter their forward… Read more »
Think they realized just putting the ball into the box wouldnt work against the orcs. Last couple of games have been poor but prior to that our corner routines have been decent even a few well choreographed straight off the training ground. That one that went all the way back to Leno was incredibly bad.
I agree. Too many short corners. I’ve noticed in earlier games that some of our corners end up being passed back to Leno within a few passes. Frustrating for us as fans. Also must be rather frustrating for the centre backs who have wasted a trip into the opposition penalty area.
To what extern özil had a great game, he is clearly not material to provide our team with the spine a player of his stature requires. Pls let him go in January, to allow our team to grow without the insufficiently met expectation of Mesut to lead the way
Keep playing the 4-3-1-2 system Mr Emery. The players won’t disappoint you. #Ozil #Captain
I’m starting to suspect that Silent Stan has a fleet of (obviously unpaid) interns whose job is to poison social media about Özil to force his departure.
Decent game today. Was happy with how the tram stood up to Burnley.s *cough* physical tactics. Lost some respect for Dyche post match..what a fucking delusional interview talking about diving..claiming his players were nowhere near ours as they fell down. The dirty bastards kicked lumps out of Guendouzi and Maitland Niles in particular. And Xhaka did get get nudged and bumped when he fell down in OUR area Impressed at how well Guendouzi maintained his composure given the kicking he took. Also nice to see Torreira and Sokratis give a little back in return. Xhaka has improved out of sight… Read more »