The Arsenal that attacked Liverpool in the opening moments of their League Cup semi-final defeat was not present as Burnley won the early battles of attrition and earned an agonising point.
Mikel Arteta set up Arsenal with the same team bar Takehiro Tomiyasu who was replaced by Rob Holding, Ben White moving to right back. The crux of Arsenal’s issues seemed to lie in their midfield and striking positions. Ironically the two areas that the Gunners have been looking to strengthen in this winter transfer window.
Sambi Lokonga occupied the sole deep midfield position with Emile Smith-Rowe and Martin Odegaard ahead of the Belgian. Yet Arsenal lacked the focal point as Alexandre Lacazette’s positioning hampered the identity of the Gunners’ forward play.
