Arsenal Team News: Injuries, suspensions and line-up vs Burnley

Everything you need to know ahead of the Premier League clash at Turf Moor on Sunday

Arsenal’s victory over Tottenham in the north London derby emphasised that they have a squad capable of winning big games but the question going into Sunday's match against Burnley is whether they produce similar results against teams in the second half of the table.

The performance encapsulated everything good about the Gunners with the likes of Shkodan Mustafi putting in an impressive defensive shift upon his return from injury and Mesut Ozil starring as the link between midfield and attack.

Burnley double chance 5/4

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Sunday’s match against Burnley represents a different task to a derby match. Traditionally a difficult place to go, Sean Dyche’s group are a physically powerful side who will look to stem Arsenal’s attacking flow throughout the game.

“Turf Moor is a very difficult place to go for everybody," said Wenger.

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"I believe that their capacity to be efficient with a restricted possession as well [is a big strength].

“They have won games with 25 per cent or 30 per cent possession. That means they are calm, they know what to do and they are patient with that killing instinct of a snake. They put you to their face and then they bite you.”

Wenger's men lost to FC Koln in the Europa League on Thursday but are likely to make a number of changes for Sunday's game.

ARSENAL INJURIES

Theo Walcott misses out through illness and despite returning to training the Englishman hasn't been deemed match fit.

Danny Welbeck was hauled off at half-time of Arsenal's defeat to FC Koln but Wenger reassured supporters that it was planned substitution as he steps up his recovery from injury.

"The last time he came back from injury, we played him at Watford and after an hour he got a bad hamstring," said Wenger.

"This time I didn’t want to take that gamble. I wanted to be a bit more progressive with him. Almost certainly, nothing would have happened but I felt it was more sensible to do it. He’s fine. He’s completely fine."

Spanish midfield maestro Santi Cazorla remains a long-term absentee with an Achilles injury and is likely to resume training at the turn of the New Year.

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ARSENAL SUSPENSIONS

Arsenal have no players suspended for this game.

ARSENAL POTENTIAL STARTING LINE-UP

Wenger is likely to make wholesale changes for the trip to Turf Moor with Petr Cech returning in goal and Hector Bellerin and Sead Kolasinac occupying the wing back spots.

The likes of Nacho Monreal, Laurent Koscielny and Shkodran Mustafi will start in defence while midfield pairing Granit Xhaka and Aaron Ramsey will support the lethal attacking triumvirate of Alexis, Mesut Ozil and Alexandre Lacazette.

Arsenal are expected to stick with the same formation which worked so successfully against Tottenham.

BURNLEY TEAM NEWS

Sean Dyche's side go into the game against Arsenal off the back of three successive wins for the first time in their Premier League history.

The Clarets haven't recorded a top flight win over the Gunners since 1974 but welcome back Chris Wood into the squad following his long-distance travels with New Zealand during the international break.

“We were unfortunate last season [against Arsenal], the two games, home and away. I thought we played very well in both and two big decisions went against us.

“I’m really pleased with how the team is performing at the moment.

“But there is still a lot of work to be done and we continue to work at the details in our performances.”

Jon Walters is yet to return to full training while Dean Marney won't be fit for Sunday's match.

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BEST OPTA MATCH FACTS

Burnley have won just one of their last 13 meetings with Arsenal in all competitions (D3 L9), winning 2-0 in a League Cup tie at Turf Moor in December 2008.
Arsenal have won their last six meetings in all competitions against Burnley, including the last two in the Premier League at Turf Moor by a 1-0 scoreline.
Arsenal won both Premier League meetings with the Clarets last season courtesy of 90th minute winners – only the second ever occasion of a team doing this home and away against the same opponent in the competition (after Manchester United v Manchester City in 2009-10).
Turf Moor has only seen seven goals scored in six Premier League matches this season; fewer than any other stadium in the competition.
Mesut Özil has created 30 goalscoring chances from open play this season in the Premier League; more than any other player. Only Eden Hazard (343) is above the German (310) in this category in the competition since his debut in September 2013.
Alexis Sanchez has scored four goals in his five meetings with Burnley in all competitions, though each of these goals has come at the Emirates.
Olivier Giroud has been used as a substitute on 10 occasions in the Premier League this season; more often than any other player. The Frenchman has scored seven of his 13 league goals since the start of last season as a substitute (54%).