Arsenal hit a new low on Sunday as they lost 1-0 to Burnley courtesy of an own goal from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Granit Xhaka’s sending off.
Mikel Arteta’s side enjoyed a spell of heavy pressure, checking Burnley before the halftime. But they couldn’t find the net. Pope had held Burnley on even terms with a strong save with his feet in the 28th minute from Alexandre Lacazette.
An early opportunity was missed by Burnley striker Chris Wood when Robbie Brady found him unmarked in the box. But he failed to hit the target. Even after the start of the second half, Arsenal were looking bright. Pope made a reaction save after the interval from a Bukayo Saka snap-shot. But suddenly Xhaka was sent off after a VAR analysis caught him grabbing the throat of Burnley’s Ashley Westwood.
Mohamed Elneny pushed James Tarkowski firmly in the face at a corner, Arsenal were fortunate not to go down to nine men. But after a VAR analysis, only a yellow card was issued. In the 73rd minute, when Aubameyang headed his dangerous in-swinging corner into his own goal. Westwood had provided the decisive corner. Arsenal generated a lot of pressure, but Nick Pope’s excellent goalkeeping helped Sean Dyche’s team hold firm.
We may have reached a point now where Mikel Arteta may be thinking about his Arsenal starting XI very carefully. He is being let down by so many senior players. For what is turning into a long, cold winter, so many seem to lack appetite and hunger.
Gunners, who have now lost four consecutive home games for the first time since1959. They are in the fifteenth position in the standings with 13 points. While Burnley climbed from the bottom three to 17th place on nine points after their first away win of the season.
