Our prediction for this Premier League match:
Arsenal and Burnley go head to head at Emirates Stadium in a David-vs-Goliath clash on Matchday 12. The Gunners aim to make amends for a 1-0 loss an unlucky 1-0 loss to Newcastle United and they will not have a better chance than this to return to winning ways in the Premier League. In their last home game Arsenal rolled over Sheffield United 5-0 and it is no wonder the odds for home win have been dropping. Gabriel Jesus remains on the sidelines alongside Thomas Partey, Emile Smith Rowe, and Jurrien Timber, but there are no fresh injury worries in the home team.
The Clarets, on the other hand, failed to impress in a 2-0 loss to Crystal Palace and given their three-game losing run on the road in all competitions, anything but a routine home win would be a big surprise. All Hjalmar Ekdal, Michael Obafemi, Benson Manuel, and Lyle Foster are out of contention with injuries, while midfielder Aaron Ramsey faces race against the clock to bet fit for Saturday’s encounter.
Highlighted Player (Jay Rodríguez):
Having progressed through the youth ranks of his hometown club Burnley, Jay Rodriguez was rewarded with a professional debut against Bristol City in December 2007 as an 18-year-old boy. It wasn’t until the 2008/09 season when he began to show glimpses of proper promise for the Clarets, however.
With 15 goals and six assists in 37 Championship outings in 2011/12 campaign, Jay Rodriguez caught the eye of several Premier League clubs and it was Southampton who pounced for his signature in a £7 million deal. Six goals and eight assist in his debut Premier League season were followed by a breakthrough record of 15 goals and three assists in 33 matches of the 2013/14 campaign.
An unfortunate cruciate ligament injury sustained in April 2014 halted his progress as he sat through the entire 2014/15 season. It did not prevent West Bromwich Albion from making a move for Rodriguez in 2017, making him the first signing of the summer transfer window, worth a reported £12 million. The WBA forward features only once for England U21 in 2011 and made a single senior appearance – in a 2-0 defeat to Chile in November 2013.
Highlighted Team (Arsenal):
Arsenal are regarded as one of the best English teams. The Gunners have won 12 FA Cup trophies, 13 league titles and two League Cups, but they have yet to lift the Champions League trophy. Arsene Wenger’s team were on the verge of beating Barcelona in the Champions League final back in 2006, but they eventually failed to win the prestigious title.
Arsenal used to play their homes at Highbury, but in 2006 they moved to the Emirates Stadium. The capacity of the stadium is 60,260. The Gunners won their last Premier League trophy back in 2004, with the capital club going through the season without a single loss. The likes of Thierry Henry, Denis Bergkamp and Robert Pires were part of the team back then, but Arsenal have not won the league trophy ever since.
Arsenal was founded by Woolwich munitions workers as Dial Square back in 1886. It is well known that Tottenham Hotspur are Arsenal’s fiercest rivals and there have always been fireworks when the two local rivals meet in the North London derby.