Much has been made of Arsenal’s impressive unbeaten run, one that lasted for 22 games between August and December. However, it is one that has now come to an end after the Gunners tasted defeat last weekend.
One that came at the hands of a resurgent Southampton, who under new manager Ralph Husenhattl already seem like a team that possesses a lot more energy than they did under previous incumbent Mark Hughes.
Southampton certainly used their heads in that game, as all three of their goals came via this method. Something that highlighted that for all of Arsenal’s improvements this season in Premier League they still have some defensive deficiencies.
It was a makeshift back three that started at St Mary’s and they were awfully exposed what with Granit Xhaka playing as a left sided centre back, something that certainly played into the hands of Southampton as they took full advantage of Arsenal’s lack of fit defensive personnel.
And that is exactly what Burnley will be aiming to do this weekend as they make their second trip to North London in as many weeks, while hoping for a better outcome than the one that they suffered at the hands of Tottenham.
It looked as if the Clarets were going to somehow come away from Wembley with a draw as they withstood all that Tottenham threw at them for 90 minutes and more, however there was just one chink in their armour in the dying seconds of the game.
One that saw Christian Eriksen keep his cool in a congested penalty area and slot home to give Tottenham an admittedly deserved three points. It was a win that was hard for Burnley to swallow, but at the same time they can be accused of trying to play down the clock in the hope for a draw.
Sometimes that strategy pays off and other times like we saw last weekend it backfires in the cruellest of circumstances, however Burnley manager Sean Dyche knows that he cannot dwell on that defeat as he and his players have to focus on concentrate on getting out of the bottom three.
A position that they now find themselves in after Southampton’s aforementioned win over Arsenal. That said it is only goal difference that sees Burnley lying in 18th rather than 17th, but at the same time that is definitely one area in which they need to improve on.
Last season Burnley were underpinned by a defensive bedrock, something that has not been apparent this time around. Especially when you consider that they have already conceded 33 goals before the turn of the year.
That is something that will have to change if they are to have any hopes of beating the drop and it is change that will need to be seen almost immediately as for all Arsenal’s recent defensive woes, they still have a very fearsome frontline.
One that will arguably prove to be the difference on Saturday as although Arsenal are susceptible at the back, they do have a habit of scoring their way out of trouble. That said I don’t think there will be too much trouble at the Emirates as the home side ease themselves back to winning ways.