Arsenal vs Burnley Preview: Gunners Aim To Move Closer To Premier League Title

Arsenal F.C. look to edge closer to Premier League glory as they face Burnley F.C. at the Emirates on Monday night.

As the league season draws to a close, Mikel Arteta’s Gunners find themselves two points ahead of rivals Manchester City F.C. at the top of the table.

With Arteta’s former mentor, Pep Guardiola, and his City side in action on Tuesday night against Bournemouth, Arsenal have a fantastic opportunity to put one hand on the title with victory on Monday.

But their opposition will not make things easy for the silverware-chasing Gunners.

Michael Jackson will lead his Burnley side into their penultimate Premier League encounter for the foreseeable future, fresh off the back of an impressive point at home against Aston Villa F.C. last Sunday.

The Clarets have also shown resilience away from home this season, winning their two most recent league victories on the road. Unfortunately for Burnley, however, their last win came back in February, meaning they are now enduring a three-month winless run.

For Arsenal, the story is very different.

Twenty-four wins in 36 league games this season have taken the Gunners onto a lofty 79 points, leaving them just five points away from Premier League history.

Not only do the home side hold a 58-point advantage over Burnley heading into Monday evening, but Arsenal have also lost just once in 19 Premier League meetings between the two sides, winning 14 and drawing four.

That being said, Burnley have never managed to score more than once against Arsenal in any of those 19 meetings the longest streak a side has gone without scoring twice against one opponent in Premier League history.

A combination of Arsenal being unbeaten in their last 44 Premier League home games against newly promoted sides, stretching all the way back to 2010, and the Gunners’ 100% record against relegated teams this season does not bode well for the struggling Clarets.

Burnley will be playing for pride on Monday night, hoping to give their supporters something to cheer about towards the end of a disappointing campaign in which they have won just four matches while conceding 73 goals so far almost two per game.

Defensive records this season provide another major contrast between the two sides. Arsenal have managed to accumulate an impressive 16 clean-sheet victories throughout the campaign.

Selection News

Defender Ben White is expected to be out for an extended period following his recent knee injury and will miss Monday’s clash.

Riccardo Calafiori, however, could potentially return to the first team against Burnley, while fellow full-back Jurrien Timber and midfielder Mikel Merino may not return until next weekend’s trip to Crystal Palace F.C..

For Burnley, Jordan Beyer and Josh Cullen remain sidelined, but Welsh right-back Connor Roberts could appear on the bench for the first time this season as he continues his recovery from injury.

Almost all of the nation’s eyes will be on this fixture because of the impact it could have on the title race.

As the season reaches its climax, nerves will be building around the Emirates Stadium, with Arsenal supporters desperately hoping their side can finally get the title over the line.