Dave does the Gunners...

Dave Thornley in his own unique fashion assesses the state of play at Turf Moor following yet another defeat in the English Premier League, this time at the hands of Arsenal.

We football supporters tend to be blinkered, myopic, hasty to judge and sometimes virulent in our assessments. In this regard I am no better or worse than any other fan. But when the news broke of Lyle Foster’s struggles with his mental health, it gave me pause and brought in to focus how relatively trivial the results of a ball game are when set against life’s deeper and more pressing problems.

Supporters understand calf strains and torn hamstrings as part and parcel of the game, but mental health is a harder subject to grasp. Indeed, there are those who think that wealthy, talented and athletic young men, doing what most of us would happily have done for free, have no business suffering from depression or anxiety. But mental illness is pernicious and strikes indiscriminately and often with debilitating effect.

My plea to fellow Clarets is not to concern ourselves with when (or if) Foster will be back, or who plays in his absence, what matters is that this young man receives the treatment he requires to make a full recovery. If that recovery involves him leaving Burnley, or even leaving football, then so be it.

Speedy recovery Lyle.

Football and Burnley Football Club, goes on however, as does the Clarets’ travails in their quest to add to the mere four points they have accumulated so far in this difficult season. A trip to Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium yesterday afternoon offered little prospect of that changing.

The hammering I for one feared, however, did not materialise, and for that at least I am grateful. In addition, there were, as with last week’s defeat by Crystal Palace, glimpses of the sprouting of some green shoots.

Burnley created some decent chances throughout an even first half, and despite falling behind just prior to the interval, managed to fashion an equaliser early in the second, through Josh Brownhill’s deflected shot after Luca Koleosho had jinked his way through the Gunners’ defence.

But Burnley’s frailties would manifest themselves once again, with some lamentable defending from Arsenal corners swung in towards a surrounded and unprotected James Trafford. First Saliba and then Zinchenko would benefit from this basic, but against Burnley, productive tactic.

This is merely one in an ever-growing list of issues which Vincent Kompany and his coaches need to resolve, and while progress can be observed in some areas, this is one which requires urgent attention.

As the gap between Burnley and safety continues to widen, the probability increases that, despite the slight improvements I alluded to, Burnley will be relegated at the end of this season, but if that is indeed to be the outcome, then how Burnley go down is important, let us not go down with a whimper but with some spirit, some pride and a lot of determination.

Editor’s note: For all the world it looks like the Clarets are going to make a rapid return to the Championship. Despite the riches on offer in the English Premier League somehow, I feel we are out of place, out of our depth, we no longer have the footballing nous needed to compete. If we are to make a go of staying up this season Alan Pace is going to have to make some serious decisions and soon. (TEC.)

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