PIERRE-EMERICK AUBAMEYANG was more rusty than ruthless in front of goal as he returned from suspension with David Luiz in Arsenal’s lively 0-0 Premier League draw at Burnley.
Read our player-by-player assessment as boss Mike Arteta played a three-man attack, kept faith in enigmatic playmaker Mesut Ozil and saw the Gunners fade after a brilliant start.
Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang produced an odd miss early on – when he chose to shoot with his right rather than left footCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Bujayo Sako was a key man for Arsenal until injury slowed him down and then forced his substitution
BERND LENO
Tidy performance with few saves to make. Had no chance when Jay Rodriguez thumped what should have been a late winner off the bar. 6
HECTOR BELLERIN
Accomplished throughout. Stood up well to the menace of Dwight McNeil, although the Clarets’ winger sometimes found space. The Spaniard’s pace was also a useful outlet on the overlap. And he had a decent opportunity on 75 minutes when he scampered inside, only to flash a shot wide of the far post on his weaker, left foot. 7
SHKODRAN MUSTAFI
Reasonable display in the face of a Burnley battering for large spells. But Arteta surely still needs a truly top-class centre-back before the Gunners can seriously hope to contest a Champions League place again, even next season. 6
DAVID LUIZ
Focused on his defending, as many have demanded, rather than foraging forward. Burnley targetman Wood was always a danger in the air, but nothing of note that the Clarets created could be blamed on Luiz. 6
BUKAYO SAKA
Fizzed more than anyone in Arsenal’s lively start, putting Burnley’s defence and even their midfield on the backfoot with his pace, positivity and skill. But slowed down after being fouled and that injury finally forced him off at half-time. 6
MATTEO GUENDOUZI
Never did enough to help the Gunners sustain a grip on the contest, lacking both the the creativity on the ball and the bite off it. In the absence of a genuine superstar in the middle, Arteta needs more from ALL his midfielders. Rasped a long-ranger wide just before the Gunners’ bight start began to fade. 5
GRANIT XHAKA
Provided arguably the pass of the match – a left-foot chip of delightful technique and vision to put Aubameyang in for a volleyed opportunity midway through the first period. Yet like the Gunners as a team, the Switzerland skipper flitted well for the opening 20 minutes, whilst rarely looking truly forceful. 5
PIERRE-EMERICK AUBAMEYANG
Missed three highly-presentable chances on his return from suspension. He drilled a right-footer wide early on when he got his body shape wrong; showed great alertness to meet Xhaka’s pass for a a volley stabbed straight at Nick Pope; and then flashed a second-half header wastefully wide. True, the captain’s general play was promising, but he won’t be remembered for that. 6
MESUT OZIL
Another frustrating, fitful afternoon – stylish early on, then disappeared for half an hour. Instrumental in two of the Gunners’ finest moves, notably to tee up Martinelli, before fading. The German’s initial spark under Arteta, in starting every Prem game since the Spaniard took over last month, has declined in the past fortnight. Was booked for dissent and replaced by Joe Willock on 63 minutes. 5
ALEXANDRE LACAZETTE
Now nine games without scoring, equalling his worst run in England. Less spark than Martinelli and less pedigree than Aubameyang, the hard-grafting Frenchman seems to be suffering as a natural striker trying to fit in out wide in a three-pronged attack. Denied by a brilliant lunging tackle by James Tarkowski when a goal otherwise seemed certain. Replaced by Eddie Nketiah on 89 minutes. 5
GABRIEL MARTINELLI
Twice went close with fierce shots but not as electric as in Aubameyang’s absence for the past three games. Arsenal’s revival in the next two years or so will depend much on the Brazilian’s progress, and occasional quieter games like this are to be expected from a player who is still just 18. 6
SUBS:
LUCAS TORREIRA (for Saka, 45 mins) – Like the rest of Arsenal’s midfielders, never dictated the momentum of the contest. Booked for a blatant body-check. 5
JOE WILLOCK (for Ozil, 63 mins) – Few direct opportunities to shine, but drilled a long-ranger wide when the Gunners got back on top midway through the second period. 6
EDDIE NKETIAH for Lacazette, 89 mins) – Introduced too late to make an impact. 6
Subs not used: Papastathopoulos, Ceballos, Pepe.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta couldn’t be happier with new signings Pablo Mari and Cedric Soares
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
