Arsenal analysis: Aubameyang could be Christmas No.1 as Mesut Ozil provides reminder of his class

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James Olley22 December 2018

Arsenal forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang shot to the top of the Premier League scoring charts with two goals in Saturday's 3-1 home win over struggling Burnley, returning his side to winning ways after two straight defeats.

The Gabon forward gave Arsenal the lead in the 14th minute, knocking in a pass from Sead Kolasinac after a classy ball from Mesut Ozil. He then smashed high into the net in the 48th to complete an impressive counter-attack from Unai Emery's side.

Burnley, 18th in the table and without an away win since September, hit back with a scrappy goal from Ashley Barnes having spurned a good chance to take an unlikely lead at the start of the game when Ashley Westwood was denied by the feet of Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno.

Substitute Alex Iwobi restored Arsenal's two-goal cushion with a simple finish in stoppage-time, helped by another clever move from German playmaker Ozil, who was left out of the team for Wednesday's 2-0 EFL Cup defeat by Tottenham.

James Olley assesses the key talking points at the Emirates...

Aubameyang could be Christmas No.1

Action Images via Reuters

Two more goals for Aubameyang sent him to the top of the goal charts on 12 for the campaign, one ahead of Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah.

Today’s brace broke a mini-drought of four games without a goal and only reinforces the idea he should play through the middle as a matter of course rather than lay out wide at times to accommodate Alexandre Lacazette.

Ozil provides a reminder of his class

Action Images via Reuters

The 18-pass move which saw Aubameyang fire Arsenal into a 14th-minute lead featured a sublime pre-assist from Mesut Ozil on his return to the starting line-up.

Such was the 30-year-old’s vision, television replays showed Sead Kolasinac was not even in shot when Ozil curled the ball into his path.

Emery insisted yesterday that Ozil had a future at the club and backed up those words by making him captain and the heartbeat of a new formation featuring a midfield diamond – here was a reminder of the class he possesses when on his game.

He also provided an assist in stoppage-time as substitute Alex Iwobi settled Arsenal’s nerves with a third goal.

Half-time jinx finally ends

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It was a curious statistical quirk of Unai Emery’s reign that Arsenal had not led a Premier League at half-time.

It was also symptomatic of the slow starts that have made several games more difficult than they perhaps needed to be but the Gunners were at it from the outset here, encouraged by Burnley’s lack of positive intent, and able to go in at the break ahead at the 18th time of asking.

Burnley’s second-half improvement caused a few jittery moments but with the benefit of not having to chase the game, Arsenal were able to hang on.

Defensive injury concerns continue

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Nacho Monreal limped off eight minutes before half-time with what appeared to be a muscular problem, prompting Emery into a change of shape as Granit Xhaka reprised his role as a left-sided centre-back in 3-5-2 shape.

Monreal missed 12 games with a hamstring injury before returning earlier this month and his availability was helping to ease defensive concerns as Rob Holding, Shkodran Mustafi and Konstantinos Mavropanos continue to struggle with injury.

Laurent Koscielny was given the afternoon off after playing three games in a week and should be available to face Brighton on Boxing Day – but some will already be concerned is what happens three days later at Liverpool.

Lacazette hints at frustration

REUTERS

Lacazette may have assisted Aubameyang’s second goal but he clearly felt there was more to come when he was taken off with 12 minutes remaining for Alex Iwobi.

It wasn’t clear what the Frenchman said as he took his seat in the dugout but his body language suggested he was not best pleased, throwing his gloves down and shaking his head in apparent frustration.

The 27-year-old has only scored two League goals since October 7.

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