Well, the dream of a European trophy to wave farewell to Arsene Wenger came to an end last night but it’s time to quickly move on.
Its massively important that the team doesn’t dwell on the Atletico result as a game against Burnley for Wenger’s last home game won’t be easy.
For a while Arsenal have been marooned in 6th in the Premier League but a win for Burnley will bring them level on points with the Gunners. Arsenal do have a game in hand though.
Obviously, the game will have the much bigger overriding theme of Wenger’s farewell. But there is still a job to be done to make it a happy farewell.
Hopefully this edition of Arsenal vs Burnley goes as usual and ends with three points going in Wenger’s pocket. Something that has happened in the last seven meetings between the sides.
However, even though Burnley have been on a different level to usual this season, their recent form could suggest Arsenal are facing them at the right time.
Sean Dyche’s side haven’t won their last three games, well neither have Arsenal but in the Gunners’ have won four of their five home games.
Arsenal may also take some motivation from the fact that Burnley are one of the three teams they’ve beaten away from home this season.
However, that win didn’t come until an added time penalty courtesy of Alexis Sanchez which can hand Dyche some motivation going into the game.
Now that Arsenal are without Europa League, squad rotation shouldn’t be a worry but there is one player who definitely won’t be in action.
Against Atletico Madrid, Laurent Koscielny’s long lasting Achilles problem caught up with him early on and he was stretchered off in agony. At first glance the injury looks to be like the lengthiest we’ve seen from him and if we are to believe Jake Humphrey then that’s exactly what it is:
Confirmed torn Achilles for #Koscielny. 6 months expected recovery time…poor guy
— Jake Humphrey (@mrjakehumphrey) May 3, 2018
However, despite Koscielny’s absence Arsenal shouldn’t be too discouraged as both Calum Chambers and Konstantinos Mavropanos have impressed in the last week.
But like I said earlier, nothing matters as much as the players who are picked doing their job properly to give Wenger the send off he deserves.
The scenes on Sunday look to be very touching to Wenger with a similar plan to the Highbury farewell looking to be in place. So, even though the game does carry a massive importance as his final home game as Arsenal manager, even if Arsenal don’t win, hopefully that won’t make for sour scenes after the game.
