EPL 2016/17: Burnley 0-1 Arsenal - 5 talking points

Arsenal moved to within two points of Premier League leaders Manchester City thanks to a last-gasp headed goal from Laurent Koscielny.

In a far from entertaining football game, the Gunners huffed and puffed but could find no way past an extremely resolute Burnley defence until the 93^rd minute.

Both sides started the game poorly and a number of sloppy passes and poor runs meant that the teams went in level at half-time. Although the Gunners pushed for a goal in the second half, the closest they came was when Alexis Sanchez struck a spectacular volley onto the post.

Michael Keane had a chance to win the game for the Clarets but he too hit the post. Finally, it was Koscielny’s controversial winner that separated the two sides.

Here are 5 talking points from the game for what it’s worth:

---

#5 Arsenal finally has what it takes to be champions

Arsenal have finally developed the killer instinct

Arsene Wenger’s men have long been accused of failing to win games that they dominated. This season, however, they have won games that they had no right doing so. Firstly, they squeezed past Southampton thanks to a late penalty from Santi Cazorla after being outplayed for most of the match.

Last night, they again managed to secure all 3 points courtesy a controversial Laurent Koscielny header in the last seconds of the game.

Although the performance must have disappointed Wenger, he will be delighted with the fact that they can eke out all three points even when not at their best.

Teams like Manchester United and Chelsea in the past, have ground out 1-0 wins despite being outplayed by oppositions. Now finally, Arsenal have learnt how to do that as well and, it is this, more than anything else, that could help them ultimately clinch the Premier League crown.

#4 Mustafi and Koscielny are the real deal

Mustafi and Koscielny could become the best centre-half partnership in the league

The Shkodran Mustafi-Laurent Koscielny partnership at the back seems to be flourishing even better than the Arsenal fans would have hoped for. The duo have now kept three clean sheets in a row and look untroubled for the most part of the game.

Despite having similar playing styles, the German-French pair have still managed to complement each other brilliantly and have provided much needed defensive stability to the Arsenal side.

While Mustafi is the more aggressive of the two, often launching into tackles and throwing himself into aerial duels, Koscielny is more sensible in his approach and often drops off, covering for his partner and relying on positioning and reading of the game to win the ball.

Together, they seem to be getting better with each game and will definitely play a huge role going forward in Arsenal’s title challenge.

#3 Burnley is solid at home

Burnley dealt with all Arsenal threw at them tonight until the final minute of the game

Burnley were brilliant defensively yet again on their home turf. The Clarets have now conceded just 6 goals in their last 18 home league games; games in which they have played against Arsenal and Liverpool.

Despite conceding tonight, Sean Dyche will be happy with the fight and determination his side displayed throughout the game and the fact that they kept out one of Europe’s best attacking teams until the 93^rd minute.

Cruelly for Burnley, it was a handball that earned Arsenal the three points.

The centre-back partnership of Ben Mee and Michael Keane were especially impressive, their solidity often leaving Arsenal out of ideas. It is this understanding that they must carry into their away games as well in order to push for a top half finish.

#2 Burnley must mind the gap to the bottom three

Sean Dyche has a tough task on his hands at Burnley

After tonight’s defeat, Burnley sit in 14^th spot, 3 points clear of the relegation zone. After their victory against Liverpool, it looked like the Clarets would have no trouble staying up this season, but 3 defeats in 4 games since, have dampened the spirits.

With West Ham’s form bound to improve, coupled with the fact that Stoke finally achieved a positive result against Manchester United, things don't look all that bright for the Clarets.

Burnley have difficult fixtures coming up against Southampton, Everton and Manchester United, and they must find a way of coming away with at least 3 points in these games or they could find themselves in a relegation dogfight, which Sean Dyche would definitely not want.

#1 Gunners must not resort to their slow passing of previous seasons

Arsene Wenger was frustrated with his side’s inability to break down the Burnley defence

Throughout the first half and up until about the 80^th minute, the Arsenal side that demolished Chelsea and Basel was missing. In it’s place was the Arsenal of old – content with slow sideways passes and keeping possession of the ball for large periods of the game.

The Gunners lacked urgency, until the time Chamberlain came on, late in the second half. It was the late urgency that resulted in Wenger’s side coming away with all three points as they pressed higher up the pitch and played quickly and more effectively in the final third.

In Alexis Sanchez and Theo Walcott, Arsenal have players who are constantly on the move and looking for service, but slow passes between the midfield and defence does not provide them with the opportunity to utilise their pace and skill effectively.

Arsene Wenger must address this issue sooner rather than later and set his side up in the same way that he did in the past 3-4 games.