Three things we learnt from Arsenal’s last-gasp 1-0 win over Burnley

Add as preferred source on Google

Andre Gray’s Absence A Blessing In Disguise

Who knows how Sean Dyche might have set his team up with Gray at his disposal, but his absence has meant Burnley have played a 4-5-1 in their last two games rather than their customary 4-4-2.

The central trio of Dean Marney, Steven Defour and Jeff Hendrick did a sterling job at blocking Arsenal’s lines of pass through the middle of the pitch. They gave Arsenal the wide areas, happy in the knowledge that without Olivier Giroud the Gunners weren’t much of a threat from crosses (though their winner did come from a cross).

Mesut Özil was below his best, but credit also has to go to the Clarets who marshalled him extremely well. Gray’s suspension does mean Burnley lack speed and athleticism at the top end of the pitch though, and they found it hard to get out of their half at times.