ARSENAL travel to Lancashire on Sunday to face a Burnley side that remarkably they find themselves level on points with in the Premier League after 24 games.
Turf Moor has traditionally been a happy hunting ground for the Gunners, however, having won on four of their five visits in the Premier League era – the other being a 1-1 draw back in 2009.
Arsenal have won only once away from home since the opening day of the season though, with boss Mikel Arteta chasing his first league triumph on the road at the helm.
The Spaniard will be buoyed by Monday night’s 2-1 FA Cup victory at Bournemouth, however, and will be hoping to close the gap on the European places with three points against Sean Dyche’s team.
Clean sheets have been hard to come by for the Gunners, particularly away from home and various defensive absentees will make obtaining one here more difficult.
Bernd Leno, mistake against Chelsea last month aside, has been a dependable figure and will continue between the sticks.
In front of the German, Hector Bellerin finally seems to have put his fitness troubles behind him and a run of games in the side will only see the Spaniard’s form improve.
Arsenal have brought in Southampton right-back Cedric Soares on loan, but Arteta has confirmed that is not yet available because of injury.
Centre-back has long been an issue for the Gunners.
David Luiz and Shkodran Mustafi both started the 2-2 draw at Chelsea, but with both having been particularly blunder-prone and Mustafi having since suffered an injury, Arteta could explore a new partnership.
Sokratis returned for the cup tie at Bournemouth, and could be partnered by the little-seen Rob Holding at the heart of the defence, despite Luiz being available again after suspension.
New signing Pablo Mari is an adept left-sided defender that Arteta knows through his time at Manchester City, but is unlikely to be thrown straight in.
He could feature in the matchday squad, however, with Arteta saying of his new buy: “For me it’s very important. He balances what I want to do from the backline.
“He gives us more options, more solutions and opens up the pitch more. He is a player we have been following for a couple of months that we are very happy to have.”
With Kieran Tierney and Sead Kolasinac still crocked, 18-year-old starlet Bukayo Saka will continue at left-back, confident after his brilliantly taken goal at Bournemouth.
Further forward, Granit Xhaka has been a man revitalised under Arteta and is a certainty to start at the heart of the Gunners’ midfield.
His partner is less certain though and Matteo Guendouzi may retain his place from the win at the Vitality Stadium. Arteta is likely to revert to Lucas Torreira, however, who he has so far tended to prefer in league games.
And while the Arsenal manager’s former team-mate Mesut Ozil has become a regular again since Unai Emery’s departure – youngster Joe Willock may feel a tad hard done by if he is dropped to the bench.
Nicolas Pepe has shown signs of promise in recent weeks, particularly in the 2-0 victory over Manchester United and appears a project worth persisting with.
Meanwhile with skipper Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang back from suspension, he could return in place of the goal-shy Alexandre Lacazette, rather than teen sensation Gabriel Martinelli.
