Burnley

Marissa Thomas
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

It was another miserable afternoon at Turf Moor for Burnley fans who saw their side thrashed 5-0 against Arsenal.

They have only won one of their 13 home league games this campaign.

Burnley have failed to score in nine of their 25 league games, only Fulham and Everton (10) have failed to score more often this season.

Vincent Kompany's side failed to have a shot on target in the match and posed no threat to the dominant Gunners.

Burnley's misery was compounded when Aaron Ramsey was carried off on a stretcher just after the hour mark with a serious looking knee injury.

The Clarets have shipped 26 first-half goals in 25 games, the most of any side in the league this term.

Relegation remains a distinct possibility with Burnley in 19th position and seven points from safety.

They will look to end their seven-game winless streak when they travel to Crystal Palace next Saturday (15:00 GMT).

Vincent Kompany on Burnley's defeat to Arsenal: "They were better than us, it wasn't a good game for us.

"We've had defeats and come back and said it was a good performance but there were details in the key moments - but today was not good enough.

"We will take it on the chin and focus on the next game. It is important to get momentum in the run of games we've got left."

"This place, in Burnley, people are resilient. If there is one thing we know now for sure, it is people from the outside won't believe in us, so we have to believe in ourselves. That's the only thing you can do.

"We can't let this affect the run of games we've got left."

• Arsenal have begun a calendar year with five successive league victories for the first time in the club’s history. This is now their longest winning run in the Premier League this season, improving their goal difference by +19 during this period.

• Burnley have won just one of their 13 home Premier League games this term (D2 L10), with that win coming against fellow newly promoted side Sheffield United in December.

• Arsenal’s 25 set piece goals this season (including penalties) is their most on record (since 2004-05) in a Premier League campaign. Indeed, they have scored eight penalties this term, only netting more in 2006-07 (10).

• Since the start of last season, only five players have been involved in more Premier League goals than Arsenal’s Martin Odegaard (33 - 20 goals, 13 assists), while he's had a hand in more goals than any other midfielder during this period.

• Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka has scored in four consecutive Premier League appearances for the first time in his career, netting more goals across these four games (6) than in his previous 19 matches (5).

Arsenal's Bukayo Saka scores his second goal of the game against Burnley

Bukayo Saka has scored six goals in his last four Premier League away games

Bukayo Saka scored twice as Arsenal continued their blistering goalscoring form to thrash Burnley and close the gap at the top of the Premier League to two points.

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard opened the scoring after four minutes, firing a crisp strike into the bottom corner following a pass from Gabriel Martinelli.

Saka converted from the spot after Lorenz Assignon fouled Leandro Trossard in the box.

The England forward got his second of the game just after the restart, latching on to a clever Odegaard pass then cutting inside and rifling a shot into the roof of the net.

Kai Havertz's scuffed effort was blocked in the box but Trossard was alert to curl in for his third goal in as many league games.

Jakub Kiwior's long throw down the line then found an unmarked Havertz, who ghosted in behind the defence and drilled past home goalkeeper James Trafford to complete a comprehensive win for the Gunners.

Arsenal, who have 21 goals in five straight wins, move two points behind leaders Liverpool, while Burnley remain in the relegation zone.

Were you at the match or did you follow it from home?

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There are seven games being played in the Premier League on Saturday and we will bring you every moment.

Follow all of the action and reaction here

All times are GMT

BBC pundit Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches again this season, against a variety of guests.

For this weekend's games, he takes on rapper Songer, who is a Chelsea fan.

Sutton's prediction: 1-2

I am at Turf Moor for this one and I don't think it will be as straightforward for Arsenal as some people might think.

As ridiculous as it might sound, I was very impressed by Burnley when I watched them in their defeat against Liverpool. They started well, were well organised and created chances - big chances - but they just could not take them.

In the end, they paid the price for a couple of individual errors ,which get heightened when they happen in a close game like that one. They cannot afford many more of those if they want to stay in the Premier League.

Also, the Clarets are not in a position to pinpoint certain games as being 'winnable'. They have won three league games all season and they need to win at least three more just to get out of the relegation zone, so they need to approach every game as being 'must-win', including this one.

We know the importance of it for Arsenal at the other end of the table too. The Gunners blew West Ham away last week and they will need to keep their focus here because their title hopes rely on a very small margin of error.

Mikel Arteta's side have just beaten Liverpool and West Ham, so this might seem as if it is the easiest of their current run. But despite four straight wins, which also includes Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace, it is still a dangerous fixture because Burnley are scrapping for their lives.

I do think Arsenal will win though. Last season, the Gunners started well and fell away. This season, I think it is fair to say their early performances were not quite at that breathtaking or exhilarating level, but maybe this is their time to get going.

Songer's prediction: 0-3

Weirdly enough, I was actually at Arsenal's game against West Ham last week. My old man is a Hammers fan and I was sat with a load of Arsenal fans, so I was right in the middle. I cannot say I am Arsenal's biggest fan, so I was not too pleased with the result either.

They did look good though and Burnley look a bit shaky so, after winning 6-0 away, I am going for another comfortable Arsenal win.

Read all of Sutton's predictions for this weekend's games

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says Burnley boss Vincent Kompany has a "special aura".

Their two sides meet at Turf Moor on Saturday.

Kompany captained Manchester City while Arteta was assistant to Pep Guardiola from 2016-2019, where they won two Premier League titles, two EFL Cups and an FA Cup together.

The Clarets go into the match without a win in five games and seven points from safety, while Arsenal have the chance to go top of the Premier League if Liverpool fail to beat Brentford in the early kick-off.

"We know each other really well and I have a huge admiration for him," Arteta said. "He has a special aura around and is well articulated, he has great ideas and on top of that he has the courage - his work ethic is phenomenal.

"He has great ideas and a vision of how to play the game.

"What Burnley did last season in the Championship was phenomenal and to do that you need to be exceptional and that is big credit to him.

"They went through a difficult period [earlier this season] and have been unlucky with the results they have had."

Image source, Getty Images

Burnley have the second-worst defensive record in the Premier League after conceding 50 goals so far this season. Only Sheffield United have leaked more goals than the Clarets.

Before Saturday's game with title-chasing Arsenal, boss Vincent Kompany said his side "have had to go through tough times", particularly at Turf Moor on their return to the top flight.

It is some contrast to last season where they romped to the Championship title on the back of just one defeat all campaign at home.

"Plenty of good games to look back on, plenty of good performances but in the end we cannot feel sorry for ourselves," said Kompany.

"Last year was one massive party, every home game, and this year we have had to go through tough times but it hasn't come from the lack of desire to make it [Turf Moor] a fortress."

Arsenal will travel north full of confidence after thrashing West Ham 6-0 in their most recent game last Sunday.

However, Kompany is not focused on the past but instead will plot improvements on the pitch against the Gunners.

"We can't go back and feel sorry for ourselves," he said. "We have played good games, and not won, but we've got to win and I'm not just speaking about Arsenal specifically.

"I find it tough sometimes on the lads because I see the work they put in and the integrity of the job. They really try and don't always get punished in the most obvious ways.

"It's been a number of issues with how we've conceded goals but, tomorrow is a new beginning so everything that has happened beforehand, don't let it define us in the future.

"You have to focus on these types of games because they have players who can make the difference, so we have to be ready to over achieve. It's a mindset you create before the game."

The key facts and figures before Saturday's game between Burnley and Arsenal in the Premier League.

• Burnley have won just one of their 17 Premier League games against Arsenal (D4 L12), with that win coming at the Emirates Stadium in December 2020.

• Arsenal are one of only two sides with a 100% Premier League record in 2024 so far, winning all four games and scoring 16 goals. It’s only the second time they’ve won their first four league games in a year, also doing so in 1935; they’ve never won their opening five league games in a calendar year.

• Burnley have scored just nine goals in their 17 Premier League games against Arsenal, and never more than once in a match. It’s the most one side has faced another in the competition without ever netting multiple goals.

• Arsenal’s 6-0 away win at West Ham was their biggest away league win since December 1935 (7-1 at Aston Villa), and was the second time they’d scored 5+ goals in a game in 2024 (also 5-0 vs Crystal Palace), as many times as they did so in the Premier League in 2023 overall (twice in 42 games). They haven’t done so in three games in one year since 2018 (three times).

• Burnley have shipped 50 Premier League goals this season in just 24 matches, conceding their 50th in the 3-1 loss to Liverpool. It is the earliest into a league season they’ve shipped 50 goals since 1932-33 (23rd game, second tier) and earliest in the top-flight since 1929-30 (24th game).

• Only Bruno Fernandes (70) has created more chances in the Premier League this season than Arsenal duo Bukayo Saka and Martin Ødegaard (61 each). In his career, Ødegaard is creating a chance every 37 minutes for his Gunners teammates in the competition; since 2003-04 (min. 90 mins), the only two Arsenal players with a better mins-per-chance created ratio are Mesut Özil (every 27 mins) and Cesc Fàbregas (every 32 mins).

Josh Lobley
BBC Sport journalist

Vincent Kompany has spoken to the media before Burnley's match against Arsenal on Saturday.

Here are the main lines from his news conference:

• Kompany said Lyle Foster and Jordan Beyer will not be available for Saturday's game. However, Charlie Taylor could return depending on how the rest of the week goes.

• He has accepted his touchline ban for this weekend's game but does not understand it: "I've given up on trying to figure it out. You get a punishment, you take it and in the end I'm too focussed on the team and the collective. I can't dwell on it too much and move on."

• On his side's defensive issues: "I find it tough because I see the work they put in, They really try and they don't always get punished in the most obvious ways. I have to say to them that tomorrow is a new beginning."

• He has high hopes for January loan signing David Datro Fofana: "David is someone who will grow on the fans quite quickly and I think he's quite difficult to play against. He's quite unpredictable. We'll need him until the end of the season."

• On high-flying opponents Arsenal: "They're a top team. You need a few things to go your way and [some] exceptional performances. These teams have always got tools to hurt you and we have to make the most of our moments."

• He has great respect for Gunners boss Mikel Arteta: "[He's] Passionate. I liked how he handled his first season with Arsenal and the complexities with that. He was working with a very young group and gradually growing and improving his team. He showed resilience and clarity."

Follow all of Thursday's Premier League news conferences

Live commentary of Burnley v Arsenal from 15:00 GMT on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds

Natalie Bromley
Fan writer

Superman's Achilles' heel: Kryptonite

Burnley: Set pieces.

I have lost count of the number of goals we have conceded this season because of our inability to defend a corner.

If it is not the keeper flapping and missing, it is his defence leaving him woefully exposed.

We have no physical presence at all and nobody is confident enough to take the initiative and defend with strength. It is such a massive shift away from what we have seen over the past decade, where we literally saw Ben Mee put his face on the goalline to prevent a goal.

That, coupled with our insistence on playing a painfully dangerous high press, just makes us look embarrassingly naive. We are not Manchester City - stop trying to play like we are.

For all of the exciting, attacking football Vincent Kompany wants to play, it means absolutely nothing and will not bring long-term success to the club in the top flight unless he learns to adapt defensively.

It is why we are at the bottom of the league. Nobody is talking about what amazing potential we have in that squad. They are talking about how bad we are in defence. If, indeed, we are being talked about at all. We spend so little time in any of the games we play, people are almost forgetting we are still here.

This is frustration talking, of course it is, and we still back our team and Kompany wholeheartedly.

But in the space of just 12 months, we have witnessed our incredible Championship-winning team ripped apart and replaced with players who still do not look like they have played together before.

We have just 14 games left - please use them to learn how to defend a corner.

Natalie Bromley can be found at No Nay Never podcast, external

We asked you for your thoughts on Saturday's Premier League match between Liverpool and Burnley.

Here are some of your comments:

Liverpool fans

Daniel: Considering the amount of injuries and illnesses we have in our team, and having a lot of key players missing in the likes of Alisson, Joe Gomez, Conor Bradley and Dominik Szoboszlai, this was a job well done. That front three of Diogo Jota, Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez worked really well and they have shown consistency. A great win and further development in this exciting title race.

Andre: Once again Liverpool played below par but managed to get the win. I’m worried about the number of chances they have on goal. Goals win games, nothing else, but I realise a number of key players are missing.

Chris: The sooner Bradley is back, the better. We need to play Trent Alexander-Arnold in midfield. I know he was carrying injury but it seems like he doesn't want to play there anymore. The goalkeeper was very good today for all the negativity he got in his last few games. We need to get players back from injury because there's a lot of games to be played.

Fred: We will need to step up a gear if we're going to win the Premier League. How crucial will that 0-0 against Manchester United be? As for Klopp announcing his departure in January with 17 games to go and us fighting on all four fronts, I will never understand that!

Burnley fans

Jack: Same as always. When are these clowns at our club going to realise that Kompany's way just isn't working? We are down. I hope some of the players have improved their standings. We are all fed up of this boring football. Looking good isn't enough - we need to put the ball in the opposition's net. That's what counts.

Steven: Great performance. To go to Liverpool and perform like that was fantastic. It was a poor first goal to concede and maybe if Aaron Ramsey rolls around for the second goal, that one doesn’t count. Some great chances created which could've easily got us a point. Onwards we go!

Baz: The difference between teams at the top of the Premier League and the bottom is having several decent goalscorers. It's an obvious statement, but goals win or draw matches. Other factors are important, such as quality and size of squad, but goals decide results. Burnley are lacking in all of the above, but Vincent Kompany doesn't have the buying power of Manchester City.

Ewan: I gave up caring months ago. Vincent Kompany thinks he is god. He makes poor team selections, poor substitutes and he doesn’t change things. He just sticks to the same old rubbish.

Image source, Getty Images

Nottingham Forest are the only team to have conceded more goals from set pieces than Vincent Kompany's Burnley this season.

Former Premier League striker Alan Shearer has raised his concerns around the Clarets' defensive issues on Match of the Day: "I understand that they have a way of playing but I think the one thing we know, and everyone else knows, is that they really struggle from set pieces."

On Liverpool's opening goal from a corner in Saturday's fixture, Shearer added: "They just have no authority, particularly the goalkeeper [James Trafford]. When there's no one near the goalkeeper, he's got the flight of the ball, he's got a clear run at it - he should just come and collect that ball. I don't think that's very difficult but he just gets wiped out. There's just no authority whatsoever.

Analysing further corner kicks in the fixture, Shearer added: "When you're that weak and you're that poor at those situations, you're going to get punished. That's why they are near the bottom of the league.

"From a defensive point of view, Burnley are miles away."

Watch the full Match of the Day episode on BBC iPlayer

Mark Chapman introduces highlights and analysis from Saturday's seven Premier League matches.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up on the action on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to BBC Radio 5 Live and 5 Sports Extra match commentaries in full on BBC Sounds:

Liverpool 3-1 Burnley

Nottingham Forest 2-3 Newcastle

Image source, Getty Images

Neil Johnston, BBC Sport at Anfield

Burnley have now conceded 50 goals in their 24 Premier League games this season; it’s the fastest they’ve reached that total in a top-flight season since 1929-30.

Meanwhile, they remain seven points from safety with Arsenal up next.

It's a bleak picture yet the Clarets might have left Anfield with something to show for their efforts had they taken their chances.

They carved out nine attempts - four on target - but found Caoimhin Kelleher, who was standing in for Alisson who was ill, in fine form.

Time is running out for Burnley. They need to add to their three Premier League wins to have any chance of pulling away from danger - sooner rather than later.

Here are the key facts and figures following Saturday's game between Liverpool and Burnley in the Premier League.

• Liverpool are just the third different Premier League side to win as many as 30 home games when scoring the opening goal, after Arsenal in March 2004 and Manchester United in April 2001 (both 33 games).

• Burnley have now lost 14 of their 18 Premier League meetings with Liverpool (W2 D2). It is their joint-most defeats against a side in the competition alongside Manchester City.

• The Clarets have now conceded 50 goals in their 24 Premier League games this season, which is the fastest they have reached that total in a top-flight season since 1929-30 (also 24 games).

• Trent Alexander-Arnold has now recorded 58 assists for Liverpool in the Premier League, with only Steven Gerrard (92) and Mohamed Salah (66) providing more for the Reds in the competition. He now has more Premier League assists than any other defender (58), edging one ahead of Liverpool teammate Andy Robertson (57).

• Only Lyle Foster (7) and Zeki Amdouni (5) have been involved in more Premier League goals for Burnley this season than Dara O’Shea (4 – 1 goal, 3 assists).

Burnley boss Vincent Kompany speaking to Sky Sports: "It was as good as a performance as you need to have a chance of getting a result somewhere like Anfield. There were lots of positives. We will always feel disappointed about the result, but the message to the team is: we keep growing. Every day of the week we need to continue with that belief.

"It wasn't just those two chances. In the first half, we had many moments where we broke and could have finished with one-on-ones, so it's the final ball and final details. They have good players too. You need a little something going your way and there wasn't enough of that today for us to get a result.

"I understand from Liverpool's perspective, they are always awkward games. There is an expectation from fans to see those games off early and to have a little bit of a quiet afternoon, but that's something we can benefit from. I've been on the other side many times and I know how awkward these things can be. We made it difficult and these types of performances can't remain unrewarded in the future.

"It's in moments like this that you show what you are made of. I have my eyes wide open and don't want to hide away from toughness. We do ourselves proud and our fans proud. People can tell you what you don't achieve in life, but they don't say what you can still achieve."

On his yellow card: "I would say it's a little bit to do with the game. I think I got booked because I should've paid attention to the fact that Jurgen Klopp got booked because then I think the referee just went looking for me.

"I opened my arms out, which I have done exactly that in many games, then all of a sudden the card comes out. Out of nothing. Now I'm suspended for the next game. I should've known it was just a way to balance it out and it doesn't make sense but hey, we have to keep going. No sulking."

Burnley captain Josh Brownhill speaking to Sky Sports after the defeat: "Overall we were very good actually. We don't want to concede the goals we conceded but to get the chances we had, there's a lot of positives.

"Going two goals down is always hard, but I'm proud of the boys. You don't create that many clear-cut chances, but on another day they go in.

"It's been the story of our season. We've been in so many games where we could have gotten more than we have right now. It's been a bit frustrating but the fight is still there, the belief and the performances.

"We just have to stick at it and hopefully things will turn."