Arsenal kept the pressure on Premier League leaders Chelsea (not actual pressure – there is no pressure on Chelsea) with a 1-0 win over Burnley.
It wasn’t pretty, but it was effective as the Gunners racked up their eighth straight win. Here’s what we learned along the way…
1. Aaron Ramsey is back
Ramsey got the early goal from the Gunners on his 150th league start. This season may not have hit the heights the last one did, but he is in a purple patch right now – for club and country.
2. Francis Coquelin has made himself indispensable
For a guy who was on loan at Charlton a few months ago, Coquelin has become remarkably important to the Arsenal cause. He’s a calming influence in midfield, a shield for the defence and a firefighter all rolled into one. And there’s a new term to describe exactly what he does…
3. Being a football fan is confusing
Or maybe that should say ‘being a bishop is confusing’. Bishop of Burnley Philip North, who is supposedly an Arsenal fan, was picked out by the TV cameras wearing a Burnley scarf. We’re not sure that’s going to please anyone much.
4. David Ospina is either underrated or overrated
We can’t make up our minds up about the man keeping Wojciech Szczesny out of the team – and neither can the fans. On the one hand he’s been very solid and there’s something very likeable about him.
On the other hand, there’s something unconvincing about him that makes it feel like he isn’t a long-term solution for Arsenal.
The jury is out.
5. Burnley fans don’t like Mike Dean
Some Burnley players, not mentioning any names, took a predictably physical approach to the encounter. Some Arsenal players, not mentioning any names, took a predictably theatrical approach to the encounter. This led to a difficult evening for referee Mike Dean.
The Burnley fans weren’t impressed.
6. Sean Dyche has a sense of humour
This was his reaction to one decision from Dean just before half-time.
7. Ben Mee is fun to watch
Not because of his football, necessarily – more so you can make jokes about his name.
8. But Burnley aren’t
Source: SNAPPA