DYCHE ON ARSENAL DEFEAT

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Sean Dyche praises side after impressive second-half performance

2021-09-18T19:10:29.435Z

DYCHE ON ARSENAL DEFEAT

Sean Dyche praises side after impressive second-half performance

2021-09-18T19:10:29.435Z

Sean Dyche praises side after impressive second-half performance

Boss Sean Dyche hailed his side’s strong second-half reaction as Burnley suffered a 1-0 defeat against Arsenal at Turf Moor.

A fine first-half free-kick from Gunners ace Martin Odegaard proved the difference between the sides as the Clarets’ wait for a first Premier League win of the season continued.

But Burnley took the game to Mikel Arteta’s visitors in the second period and Dyche, celebrating a newly-signed four-year contract this week, says his team’s response to going behind gives him reasons to be cheerful.

Dyche, 50, said: “I thought the play was very good in the second half – but inevitably, we’ve got to turn those performances into wins.

“I’m pleased with how they’ve reacted and the way they’ve taken on the second half. There’s more to come from them players I feel.

“It was a pretty sedate first half from both sides I thought – it had that kind of standoff feel to it.

“They’re [Arsenal] having a tough start to the season. We ourselves are so there was that kind of edginess.

“There was nothing too clinical either way and unfortunately they found a way to take the lead.

“There was nothing in the game, I didn’t think.”

The second half saw Dyche hand high-profile summer signing Maxwel Cornet his club debut while striker Matej Vydra also entered the fray.

Cornet went close three minutes into his debut - his curling effort being parried away by Arsenal keeper Aaron Ramsdale - while Vydra thought he had won a penalty after a foul from Ramsdale that was eventually overturned by VAR.

Dyche hailed the impact of his substitutes in prompting that second-half reaction, adding: “Maxwel needs time - he’s adapting to coming over here so he needs time.

“Matej has come back late so he’s trying to get back up to that real fitness, true fitness but he came on and affected the game.

“So I was pleased with those two and then Jay’s [Rodriguez] has tried, the little spell at the end of the game, just to try and change the feel.

“But we weren’t a million miles away at the beginning of the second half, I just felt it needed that little bit more.”

The gaffer also believes that Cornet will prove invaluable to Burnley once he is fully up to speed with the rigours of Premier League action.

He said: “He [Cornet] seems to be getting involved with the group.

“I think the timings weren’t right against Everton – but I felt it was today.

“He did very well with the ball, he’s got to learn outside of that when we haven’t got the ball - just them little nuances of the Premier League and how quickly teams can transition but we brought him in because he’s a good player.

“I’m sure he will continue to adapt to the challenge of the Premier League.”