TERRACE TALK: Arsenal - Francis Coquelin and Alexis Sanchez put the pep back in our step

The Gunners started brightly against the Clarets, in the crisp winter sunshine on Saturday.

With Coquelin retrieving possession so much higher up the park, instead of allowing opponents freedom to bear down upon and discombobulate our defence, and with Alexis restoring some much needed zip to our play, the long-awaited return of some pleasing on the eye, fast, free-flowing footie made it apparent how much these two players have been missed, during their enforced absence.

When Alexis eventually dissected the massed ranks of Burnley’s defence, following a period of the sort of patient probing that’s all too often resulted in a frustrating lack of end product in recent weeks, I had the good fortune to be blessed with the perfect view, as Calum Chambers exquisitely caressed the ball goalwards.