5 talking points as Arsenal drop points after Xhaka shocker
Arsenal suffered another frustrating afternoon as they were held to a 1-1 draw away at Burnley.
The Gunners took an early lead via Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and looked in cruise control at Turf Moor in the first half.
But they were unable to capitalise on their dominance before a mix-up between Bernd Leno and Granit Xhaka gave Burnley a comical equaliser.
From that point on, Arteta's side were pegged back by Sean Dyche's buoyed side and were unable to find a winner.
They were awarded a late penalty after Nicolas Pepe had a volley blocked by Erik Pieters on the line, but VAR rightly intervened after determining the ball had hit Pieters' shoulder rather than his arm.
It summed up an afternoon during which Arsenal were always knocking on the door but unable to find a way through.
Here are five talking points from a game Arsenal could – and perhaps should – have won which leaves them still languishing in mid table but able to take some positives.
1) Aubameyang loves playing Burnley
Burnley is often referred to as a game players dread – but not Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
The Arsenal skipper opened the scoring by cutting inside and firing beyond Nick Pope at the near post after just five minutes at Turf Moor.
It was a perfect tonic after Aubameyang’s own goal saw the Gunners lose 1-0 when the sides met at the Emirates earlier this season.
And it also extended his remarkable record against Sean Dyche’s side when it comes to scoring at the right end.
Aubameyang has now scored eight goals in just seven Premier League games against Burnley and will no doubt wish he could play them more often.
2) Xhaka does not love playing Burnley
If Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang relishes facing Burnley, Granit Xhaka certainly does not.
The Swiss midfielder has twice been sent off against the club for Arsenal.
And he endured more misery as he was at fault for a comical Burnley equaliser.
Xhaka looked composed in midfield alongside Thomas Partey as Arsenal dominated the first half.
Yet he received the ball from Bernd Leno under pressure in his own box and fired the ball straight at Chris Wood and into the Arsenal net.
It was a disastrous moment for Arsenal which undid their good work and another nightmare moment for the under-fire Xhaka against Burnley, albeit with some blame also attributed to Leno.
In terms of his wider future, it was another moment which raises question marks over Xhaka’s long-term role in Arteta’s project.
Since the start of 2016-17, Xhaka has made more errors leading to goals (8) than any other outfield player in the Premier League.
Can he be relied on moving forwards? Certainly not against Burnley, it seems…
3) Another assist for Willian
Willian’s assists are like London buses – you wait and what then two come at once!
The Brazilian dazzled with two assists in the first game of the season against Fulham and delivered another assist against Wolves in November.
But he then went three months without scoring or setting up a goal as he came in for intense criticism from some Arsenal fans.
Yet he came off the bench to help spark Arsenal’s comeback against Benfica in the Europa League, laying a simple pass for Kieran Tierney’s equaliser.
He then set up David Luiz against Leicester last week to deliver his first Premier League assist of 2021.
And he got another assist to his name by freeing Aubameyang for his opener against Burnley.
It has taken him a while to get going, but Willian could finally be finding a role under Arteta as he aims to justify his big-money three-year deal.
4) Chambers’ return
December 2019.
That was the last time Calum Chambers started a Premier League game for Arsenal before being thrust back into the side against Burnley.
Chambers has become a forgotten man at the Emirates and endured injury hell when he ruptured his ACL against Chelsea last season whilst on loan at Fulham.
But he barely put a foot wrong at Turf Moor as he was deployed at right-back.
With question marks over Hector Bellerin’s future, Chambers’ ability to play at both right-back and centre-back could be useful to Mikel Arteta moving forwards.
His display against Burnley will have done him no harm and he will look to show he still has a future at the club.
5) 50 up for Luiz and Saka
Bukayo Saka became the second youngest player to reach 50 Premier League appearances for Arsenal, reaching the milestone slightly later than Cesc Fabregas.
The 19-year-old almost marked the occasion with a goal after neat link-up play with Aubameyang before firing wide from close range in the first half.
There is no doubt Saka has become a key figure for Arsenal.
But, whisper it quietly, the same could be said for David Luiz.
Luiz also brought up his 50th Premier League appearance for Arsenal against Burnley.
He was a controversial signing from Chelsea and has had his ups and downs under Arteta.
In recent months, however, he has been rock solid defensively and a key component of Arsenal’s upturn in form.
He might not be the most popular player, but Luiz is currently a key figure for Arsenal and will likely add plenty more appearances to his half-century just as Saka will.
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