Arsenal player ratings vs Burnley as Mikel Arteta’s side drop crucial Premier League points in top four race with 0-0 draw. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
Arsenal were held to a draw against Burnley on Sunday as frustrating afternoon at the Emirates Stadium finished 0-0 in the Premier League.
Mikel Arteta’s side fell to a disappointing defeat to Liverpool last time out as they were eliminated from the Carabao Cup at the semi-final stage, with the manager’s thin squad laid bare.
Having not had a single training session ahead of that game, Takehiro Tomiyasu struggled and that has carried over into Sunday where he was left out of the squad entirely.
Rob Holding came into central defence with Benjamin White moving to right-back, meaning there was the same midfield trio of Sambi Lokonga, Martin Odegaard and Emile Smith Rowe.
Arsenal player ratings vs Burnley as Mikel Arteta’s side drop crucial Premier League points in top four race with 0-0 draw
The game played out exactly as predicted. Burnley’s two banks of four kept spaces to a premium and prevented Arsenal from creating centrally, while they were physical in the tackle and tried to make the most of set pieces.
Martin Odegaard came closest for Arsenal when Nick Pope saved his low drive, while Ashley Westwood somehow escaped a second yellow card for a clear obstruction on Gabriel.
Service resumed after the break with the Clarets frustrating their hosts, who lacked any imagination or pace to their play. It was all too pedestrian.
Try as they might, the goal never came. With the fixtures elsewhere, it’s a gigantic opportunity missed for Arsenal. Massive.
LONDON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 23: Dwight McNeil of Burnley is challenged by Aaron Ramsdale of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Burnley at Emirates Stadium on January 23, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
Goalkeeper & Defenders
Aaron Ramsdale (GK) – 6/10 – Some nervy moments for Ramsdale, including a fumbled punch in the first half, in what is the first sticky patch of form he’s shown since joining the club. A touch too erratic on occasion, lacking composure and crispness of delivery.
Benjamin White (RB) – 7/10 – Hit some superb diagonals filling in at right-back, and his distribution out from the back was the best of the Arsenal defenders.
Rob Holding (CB) – 6/10 – On the ball he wasn’t especially dangerous, with his passing not on the level of his fellow defenders, but he did deal with balls in the air well and stood strong physically.
Gabriel (CB) – 6/10 – Dealt with what he had thrown at him well, but needed to be quicker with the ball at feet. Too pedestrian.
Kieran Tierney (LB) – 6/10 – Some poor decision making in attacking areas was one of the key issues for Arsenal, with Tierney often opting for the wrong type of delivery when found in space down the left side.
Continued on next page…
January 23, 2022</a></p></blockquote>
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<h2>Arsenal player ratings vs Burnley as Mikel Arteta’s side drop crucial Premier League points in top four race with 0-0 draw</h2>
<p>The game played out exactly as predicted. Burnley’s two banks of four kept spaces to a premium and prevented Arsenal from creating centrally, while they were physical in the tackle and tried to make the most of set pieces.</p>
<p>Martin Odegaard came closest for Arsenal when Nick Pope saved his low drive, while Ashley Westwood somehow escaped a second yellow card for a clear obstruction on Gabriel.</p>
<p>Service resumed after the break with the Clarets frustrating their hosts, who lacked any imagination or pace to their play. It was all too pedestrian.</p>
<p>Try as they might, the goal never came. With the fixtures elsewhere, it’s a gigantic opportunity missed for Arsenal. Massive.</p>
<div id="attachment_122925" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-122925" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/01/23/arsenal-player-ratings-burnley-pl/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1366424464-850x560.jpeg" alt="Arsenal, Rambo" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">LONDON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 23: Dwight McNeil of Burnley is challenged by Aaron Ramsdale of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Burnley at Emirates Stadium on January 23, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>Goalkeeper & Defenders</h2>
<p><strong>Aaron Ramsdale (GK) – 6/10 – </strong>Some nervy moments for Ramsdale, including a fumbled punch in the first half, in what is the first sticky patch of form he’s shown since joining the club. A touch too erratic on occasion, lacking composure and crispness of delivery.</p>
<p><strong>Benjamin White (RB) – 7/10 – </strong>Hit some superb diagonals filling in at right-back, and his distribution out from the back was the best of the Arsenal defenders.</p>
<p><strong>Rob Holding (CB) – 6/10 – </strong>On the ball he wasn’t especially dangerous, with his passing not on the level of his fellow defenders, but he did deal with balls in the air well and stood strong physically.</p>
<p><strong>Gabriel (CB) – 6/10 – </strong>Dealt with what he had thrown at him well, but needed to be quicker with the ball at feet. Too pedestrian.</p>
<p><strong>Kieran Tierney (LB) – 6/10 – </strong>Some poor decision making in attacking areas was one of the key issues for Arsenal, with Tierney often opting for the wrong type of delivery when found in space down the left side.</p>
<p><em>Continued on next page…</em></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/01/23/arsenal-player-ratings-burnley-pl/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Midfielders </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-122926" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/01/23/arsenal-player-ratings-burnley-pl/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1366420671-850x560.jpeg" alt="Arsenal, MO" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">LONDON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 23: Martin Odegaard of Arsena battles for possession with Aaron Lennon of Burnley during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Burnley at Emirates Stadium on January 23, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>Midfielders</h2>
<p><strong>Albert Sambi Lokonga (CM) – 5/10 – </strong>Arsenal lacked a midfield. With neither of the duel No. 10’s in support it left Sambi with no options other than feeding the ball wide. It was a difficult afternoon for him but he needed to be braver to play through the middle of the pitch. A lot like everyone else.</p>
<p>Didn’t try through the middle enough.</p>
<p><strong>Martin Odegaard (AM) – 7/10 – </strong>Leading the charge with his constant demanding of the ball, Odegaard was the Gunners’ liveliest player on the day. Trying to tick Arsenal into gear it was the Norwegian moving players about the pitch, instigating matters, tracking back and pressing off the ball.</p>
<p><strong>Emile Smith Rowe (AM) – 6/10 – </strong>Nowhere near his peak fitness, Smith Rowe lacked the intensity a match of this style required. He wasn’t quite on it, like against Liverpool, and needed to come shorter to help with central progression.</p>
<p>To his credit that changed after the break as he stepped up the tempo when moved out to the left, showed more aggression with and without the ball and was involved the Arsenal’s best moments.</p>
<p><em>Continued on next page…</em></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/01/23/arsenal-player-ratings-burnley-pl/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Forwards </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-122928" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/01/23/arsenal-player-ratings-burnley-pl/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1237927664-850x560.jpeg" alt="Arsenal, Laca" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">Arsenal’s French striker Alexandre Lacazette (L) runs past Burnley’s English defender Ben Mee (R) during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Burnley. (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>Forwards</h2>
<p><strong>Bukayo Saka (RW) – 6/10 – </strong>Odegaard may have been the most lively but it was Saka who was the most dangerous. If there was going to be a spark in the game it would come from either of his boots, and the battle between him and Pieters was one he almost always won.</p>
<p>Clearly started flagging as the game wore on.</p>
<p><strong>Alexandre Lacazette (ST) – 4/10 – </strong>Dropped deep but got lost. With Arsenal’s play coming down the wings he ended up getting muddled in a crowded midfield and couldn’t impact the game in any meaningful way.</p>
<p>The chances he gets he just can’t miss. That’s two glorious ones in two matches.</p>
<p><strong>Gabriel Martinelli (LW) – 6/10 – </strong>Huffed and puffed down the left side and came up against an impressive Conor Roberts, who will have been pleased with his full Premier League debut for the club.</p>
<p>Martinelli saw loads of the ball but couldn’t quite make it count.</p>
<p><em>Continued on next page..</em></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/01/23/arsenal-player-ratings-burnley-pl/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Substitutes </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-122927" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/01/23/arsenal-player-ratings-burnley-pl/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1237928433-850x560.jpeg" alt="Arsenal, MA" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">Arsenal’s Spanish manager Mikel Arteta gestures on the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Burnley at the Emirates Stadium. (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>Substitutes</h2>
<p><strong>Eddie Nketiah – 5/10 – </strong>Wasn’t especially impactful, and bringing Smith Rowe off in the first place seemed odd.</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">
