Arsenal v Burnley: the background stats, Burnley in season 1, and goalscorers in double figures.

By Bulldog Drummond

Burnley let us not forget, were there at the start.  At the very start of organised league football in England and fairly near to the start of FA Cup football.

Six years before Royal Arsenal made it to the first round proper of the Cup for the first time Burnley were there being beaten by Darwen Old Wanderers 11-0.  The following year they were drawn against the mighty Astley Bridge and Burnley were dutifully disqualified (I am not quite sure why, but probably for being from a very boring village).

In 1888 it was back to a match against Darwen Old Wanderers which Burnley won on a walk over, before losing to the might Accrington Stanley.   The following year they joined the very first season of the football league and celebrated by losing seven of their first nine games including a 1-7 home defeat to Blackburn.  Arsenal were then just two years old.

They are one of the very few teams (and maybe the only team, I am not quite sure) to have played in every one of the Football Leagues (leaving aside the technicality of Division 3 North and South – they performed in the original one tier Football League, Divisions 1, 2, 3 and 4, the Championship and the Premier League.   Thus while Arsenal prepares to celebrate a continuous 100 years of the top division, Burnley can celebrate their diversity and travels.

Burnley came second in the Championship in 2013/14, were relegated from the Premier League in 19th place in 2015, and then came back again by winning the Championship in 2016.

And this time they have improved.

Last time they came up to the top league they went the first 11 games without a win.   This time around they managed four wins in the first 11 which lifted them to 9th in the league – their highest position since 1974, where after 11 games they were 2nd in the 1st division in a run that included victories over Tottenham, Chelsea and Man City.  They also beat Arsenal 2-1 that season and finished 5th in the league, five places above Arsenal.

This season Burnley have picked up in recent games (data from Statto.com)

Game Date Opposition Venue Result Pos Pts
18 26.12.2016 Middlesbrough home W1-0 14 20
19 31.12.2016 Sunderland home W4-1 11 23
20 02.01.2017 Manchester City away L1-2 11 23
21 14.01.2017 Southampton home W1-0 10 26

However we have to notice that these three victories came at home.   Here is the record of their away form…

Game Date Opposition Venue Result Pos Pts
3 27.08.2016 Chelsea away L0-3 13 3
5 17.09.2016 Leicester City away L0-3 15 4
8 16.10.2016 Southampton away L1-3 14 7
10 29.10.2016 Manchester United away D0-0 13 11
12 21.11.2016 West Brom away L0-4 12 14
14 03.12.2016 Stoke City away L0-2 14 14
16 14.12.2016 West Ham United away L0-1 13 17
17 18.12.2016 Tottenham Hotspur away L1-2 16 17
20 02.01.2017 Manchester City away L1-2 11 23

What is interesting as we scan down that table is that although the defeats have continued (save of course from the valiant draw with Manchester United) the deficit has reduced, from letting in three or four in the first four away defeats, to one or two in the last four away defeats.

This suggests the need to take our chances, and a recognition of the organisation of their defence.  We can see this in the yellow card level comparing Arsenal and Burnley.

Rank Player Club Yellow cards
1. Dean Marney Burnley 6
2. Jeff Hendrick Burnley 5
2. Matthew Lowton Burnley 5
4. Scott Arfield Burnley 3
4. Ben Mee Burnley 3

The top five offenders for Burnley have gained 22 yellow cards, while as we see below the top five for Arsenal have gained 16.

Rank Player Club Yellow cards
1. Shkodran Mustafi Arsenal 4
2. Francis Coquelin Arsenal 3
2. Laurent Koscielny Arsenal 3
2. Aaron Ramsey Arsenal 3
2. Alexis Sánchez Arsenal 3

Overall Burnley have collected 38 yellow cards (which to be fair is only four more than Arsenal) and way behind Watford with 49.  They have had no reds so far this season.

On the more positive front their top scorer is Andre Gray with five, the same number as Mesut Özil.  The full top scorers list is currently…

Rank Player Club Nationality Stat
1. Alexis Sánchez Arsenal
Chile
14
1. Diego Costa Chelsea
Spain
14
1. Zlatan Ibrahimovic Manchester United
Sweden
14
4. Harry Kane Tottenham Hotspur
England
13
5. Jermain Defoe Sunderland
England
12
5. Romelu Lukaku Everton
Belgium
12
7. Sergio Agüero Manchester City
Argentina
11
8. Dele Alli Tottenham Hotspur
England
10
9. Eden Hazard Chelsea
Belgium
9
9. Sadio Mané Liverpool
Senegal
9
11. Michail Antonio West Ham United
England
8
11. Christian Benteke Crystal Palace
Belgium
8
11. Theo Walcott Arsenal
England
8
14. Olivier Giroud Arsenal
France
7
14. Adam Lallana Liverpool
England
7
14. Salomón Rondón West Bromwich Albion
Venezuela
7
14. Robert Snodgrass Hull City
Scotland
7
18. Charlie Austin Southampton
England
6
18. Roberto Firmino Liverpool
Brazil
6
18. Leroy Fer Swansea City
Netherlands
6

Comparing clubs in that list (following the question of whether we might have more than “only” two players in double figures this season) we find that in the list of players who have scored 6+ in the league this season, currently the top clubs have

  • Arsenal: 3 players (total 29 goals between them)
  • Liverpool: 3 players (total 22 goals between them)
  • Chelsea: 2 players (total 23 goals between them)
  • Tottenham Hotspur: 2 players (total 23 goals between them)

All other teams listed have just one player who might hope at this stage to knock up double figures by the end of the season.

Next up, the referee preview, followed by that tactical arrangement, injuries, the sequence figures, and of course the line up.

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2 Replies to “Arsenal v Burnley: the background stats, Burnley in season 1, and goalscorers in double figures.”

  1. The background stats? But the open-ground stats that I have are pointing to Arsenal beating Burnley again but this time resoundingly tomorrow Sunday at the Emirates Stadium. The last time this season Arsenal met and beat Burnley 0-1 was at Turf Moor when Sean Dyche was embittered of Arsenal’s victory over Burnley by the lone goal the Gunners scored in the match as he said, the goal headed in by Koscielny in the match was scored out of regulation time and was also scored through handling in the Burnley’s box by a Gunner.

    For these tow unwarranted utterances made by Sean Dyche against Arsenal in that game, the Gunners will on Sunday make the punishment for the Clarets mile in this game by scoring the goals that are not going to be disputed by Sean Dyche again but be hailed and respected by him as incredible goals scored in the game by the Gunners.

    Final scores: Arsenal 4-0 Burnley.

  2. I hope d players must hve watched nd seen d result of our main rivals; dis is tym for us to move up to 2nd place on d log; meaning our players must ensure a resounding victory later today! Shalom.

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