Burnley 0-5 Arsenal: The Debrief

Arsenal continue to roll

If you are in the United States I hope you are enjoying the long weekend, if not happy Monday. This got in the way of me getting this out on my usual schedule but a game this good couldn’t be left un-analyzed.

Less preamble, let’s get into it.

Burnley 0-5 Arsenal: The Graphics

Burnley 0-5 Arsenal: The Debrief

5 - Goals scored for Arsenal against Burnley

4 - Times this season that Arsenal have scored at least 5 goals in a League match, 3 of these happening in the last 5 matches played

88.2 - Arsenal’s goal pace this season with 58 goals scored in 25 matches played. Last year Arsenal scored 84 goals

7 - Times this season that Arsenal have won the xG created battle by 2.0 or more compared to their opponent. This is the most in the Premier League, the next closes is Liverpool and Manchester City who have done so 4 times.

6 - Times this season that Arsenal have won by 3 or more goals, this is the most in the Premier League.

0 - Times this season that an opponent has beaten Arsenal on xG by 1.5 or more, the fewest in the Premier League (tied with Brentford).

-2 - Arsenal’s points difference compared to the same fixtures last season (replacing promoted teams for relegated teams)

Next Match - Arsenal have a chance to pick up those 2 points by turning last season’s draw against Newcastle into a win.

Things are going great for Arsenal right now, but in all honesty things have been pointed this way for a while it was just covered up by some bad results and poor finishing.

That period was not fun but the cold rational numbers suggested it was a blip. It could still well prove to be a costly blip for the title race but Arsenal didn’t all of a sudden turn into a bad team. In fact I think it was earlier in the season when the results were going Arsenal’s way that I was more concerned, it took this team some time to figure out how to adjust and since roughly week 15 onward this team has been on an upward trajectory.

At the current state this team looks like it is playing like one of the best team’s in the world, and is probably at the best level in easily a decade and maybe longer.

Against Burnley it felt like this was a team that wasn’t even getting out of second gear. Looking at how this match compares to others this season backs that up.

Arsenal scored 5 goals but I think compared to the highs we have seen this season in other matches only played pretty well. The level of this team continues to amaze me.

Arsenal got ahead early with a great bit of play from Gabriel Martinelli and a superb finish from Martin Odegaard and never looked back. With the early lead the team was pretty content to let the game come to them.

Interestingly this was not a game where Arsenal camped in the Burnely half, with the game flowing back and forth and only a relatively modest tilt (compared to other Arsenal matches) in the final third possession.

This was probably just what the doctor ordered for Arsenal as well, they got a head early, added on on both sides of the half and were able to cruise. A very statisfying match for all involved.

Trossard helps to make the Jesus absence feel less like a concern

3 - Shots

0.21 - xG

1 - Goal

7 - Touches in the box

6 - Progressive passes received

3 - Miscontrols (including one that very well could have been a goal either for him or Saka)

0 - Losses in the Premier League when Trossard starts as a center forward, with 8 wins and 1 draw

What to do when Gabriel Jesus has been injured has been something that has caused Arsenal problems over the last two years. Eddie Nketiah has filled in admirably but after a run of games it starts to look pretty clear that he does not have the elite ceiling and that the other players on the field aren’t at their best with him.

With Trossard Arsenal have gotten excellent production and overall team performance with him “leading” the line.

This run of matches has made it feel so much easier to not feel the pressure to rush Jesus back into the team and has given Arsenal a genuine option where it doesn’t feel like the level drops. This will be so important as the team gets into the tricky part of the schedule with the leverage of the matches ramping up.

Jakub Kiwior slots in nicely

55 - Pass Attempts with 83.6% Pass completion %, and 99.7% pass efficiency (actual completion compared to expected)

7 - Final 3rd Entry Passes completed

1 - Progressive Pass

1 - Key Pass, for 0.22 - xA and 1 assist

2 - Tackles

0 - Times Dribbled Past

2 - Fouls

1 - Interception

2 - Aerial Duel Won

100% - Aerial Win%

3.64 - Fields Gained with ball progression

Kiwior has had a nice little renaissance for Arsenal and it has come at a time when it was desperately needed. In his first few games playing left back he has left something to be desired, looking like the ask on him was too big.

Since the Fulham match he has played in a different style that has simplified what is required from him and he has responded with performances that have made him not the story while being part of a backline that looks among the best in Europe at sucking away the hope of opposition attacks.

He hasn’t been spectacular and made us forget about the level that the team can hit with the other players but he has gone from a worry when you see his name on the teamsheet to one that doesn’t make you have much of a second glance.

Odegaard’s form has powered Arsenal

73 - Pass Attempts with an 84.9% Pass completion % and 107.7% Pass Efficiency

9 - Final 3rd Entry Passes

10 - Progressive Passes

8 - Deep Completions (not Cross)

3 - Key Passes

0.17 - xA for an assist

2 - Shots

0.11 - xG for a goal

1 - Dribble Completed

1 - Time Fouled

5 - Progressive Carries

6 - Deep Touches

1 - Tackle

1 - Time Dribbled Past

2 - Blocked Passes

4 - Ball Recoveries

1.12 - Goal Probability Added

7.27 - Fields Gained with ball progression

There are lots of reasons why Arsenal look better right now but I think one of the main drivers of what changed for Arsenal was that Martin Ødegaard was playing through an injury to start the season and was well off his best and now is back to his previous highs.

I like this little graphic to help illustrate on a per match basis how much impact a player has on the team’s performances.

In the first 10 matches of the season, he had one standout match and a bunch where he struggled to make the impact that we know he is capable of. He was rightly having discussions about him and if perhaps last year was an extended purple patch. Since coming back from injury he has been back to his previous levels. He has taken a bigger responsibility in the buildup and that has seen him and the team really start clicking, producing performances that are back to his previous best on a consistent basis.

This team is looking good and I am very excited for the run-in and the knockouts of the Champions League.