Arsenal moved level on points with Premier League leaders Manchester City courtesy of a hard-fought victory over beleaguered Burnley.
The Gunners had struggled to break down a disciplined Clarets side for much of the first half but broke the visitors’ resistance on the stroke of half-time when Leandro Trossard bravely nodded in at the far post for Arsenal’s 1,000th goal at Emirates Stadium.
Burnley equalised eight minutes into the second half when Josh Brownhill’s low shot was deflected into the net by Gabriel, but the visitors were level for only three minutes before William Saliba headed in Trossard’s corner from point-blank range.
Oleksandr Zinchenko completed the scoring with an acrobatic finish into the top corner after Dara O’Shea had inadvertently steered another Trossard corner onto the crossbar.
Arsenal finished the game with 10 men after second-half substitute Fabio Vieira was shown a straight red card for a studs-up challenge on Brownhill, but the Gunners held on comfortably.
Burnley stay in the relegation zone while Arsenal trail league leaders City on goal difference – although Pep Guardiola’s team can restore their three-point lead with victory at Chelsea on Sunday.
Trossard sets Arsenal on their way
Arsenal have had more than their fair share of injury troubles in recent weeks, but they were given a welcome boost before kick-off as Saka and Takehiro Tomiyasu, who both suffered knocks in Wednesday’s 2-0 win over Sevilla, were passed fit to start.
Saka was heavily involved in the early stages and went closest to giving the home side the lead inside the opening 20 minutes, his rising effort from the edge of the area tipped onto the crossbar by Clarets goalkeeper James Trafford.
Kai Havertz – who endured another frustrating afternoon – should have done better from a Saka corner and Trossard had another powerful drive tipped over by Trafford, but the Belgian made no mistake after Saka rose highest to steer a Zinchenko delivery into his path.
The Gunners are just the third Premier League side to score 1,000 goals at a venue since the 2006-07 season, after Manchester City (1,138 at Etihad Stadium) and Chelsea (1,028 at Stamford Bridge).
The home side felt Brownhill’s second-half equaliser should have been disallowed for a foul on Tomiyasu by Luca Koleosho in the build-up – but they did not have to wait long to restore their advantage as Saliba was left unmarked to nod home his first of the campaign.
There were few complains from Arteta or his players when Vieira was dismissed for a reckless challenge on Brownhill, but Zinchenko’s scissor kick nine minutes earlier had all but ended Burnley’s hopes of salvaging a point.
More to follow.
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Rate players out of 10 throughout or after the game. The rater will close 30 minutes after the final whistle.
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Arsenal
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Squad number14Player nameNketiah
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Squad number15Player nameKiwior
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Squad number21Player nameFábio Vieira
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Squad number24Player nameNelson
Burnley
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Squad number1Player nameTrafford
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Squad number22Player nameVitinho
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Squad number2Player nameO’Shea
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Squad number5Player nameBeyer
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Squad number3Player nameTaylor
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Squad number7Player nameGudmundsson
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Squad number16Player nameBerge
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Squad number8Player nameBrownhill
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Squad number30Player nameKoleosho
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Squad number25Player nameAmdouni
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Squad number9Player nameRodríguez
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Squad number21Player nameA Ramsey
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Squad number34Player nameBruun Larsen
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Squad number45Player nameObafemi
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Squad number47Player nameOdobert
Line-ups
Arsenal
Formation 4-3-3
- 22Raya
- 18Tomiyasu
- 2Saliba
- 6Gabriel
- 35Zinchenko
- 29HavertzSubstituted forFábio Vieiraat 59′minutesBooked at 83mins
- 20Jorginho
- 41Rice
- 7SakaSubstituted forNelsonat 81′minutes
- 19TrossardSubstituted forNketiahat 81′minutes
- 11MartinelliSubstituted forKiwiorat 89′minutes
Substitutes
- 1Ramsdale
- 14Nketiah
- 15Kiwior
- 21Fábio Vieira
- 24Nelson
- 25Elneny
- 55Ibrahim
- 71Sagoe
- 76Walters
Burnley
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Trafford
- 22da SilvaSubstituted forOdobertat 88′minutes
- 2O’Shea
- 5Beyer
- 3Taylor
- 7GudmundssonBooked at 90mins
- 16Berge
- 8BrownhillSubstituted forObafemiat 85′minutes
- 30KoleoshoSubstituted forBruun Larsenat 80′minutes
- 25AmdouniSubstituted forA Ramseyat 80′minutes
- 9Rodríguez
Substitutes
- 14Roberts
- 15Redmond
- 21A Ramsey
- 24Cullen
- 29Vigouroux
- 34Bruun Larsen
- 44Delcroix
- 45Obafemi
- 47Odobert
Live Text
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Match ends, Arsenal 3, Burnley 1.
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Second Half ends, Arsenal 3, Burnley 1.
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Attempt missed. Michael Obafemi (Burnley) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Wilson Odobert.
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Delay over. They are ready to continue.
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Delay in match because of an injury Jorginho (Arsenal).
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Offside, Burnley. Sander Berge tries a through ball, but Jacob Bruun Larsen is caught offside.
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Jorginho (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Jay Rodríguez (Burnley).
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Offside, Arsenal. Gabriel Magalhães tries a through ball, but Eddie Nketiah is caught offside.
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Jóhann Gudmundsson (Burnley) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Declan Rice (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Jóhann Gudmundsson (Burnley).
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Offside, Burnley. Charlie Taylor tries a through ball, but Jacob Bruun Larsen is caught offside.
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Delay over. They are ready to continue.
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Substitution, Arsenal. Jakub Kiwior replaces Gabriel Martinelli because of an injury.
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Delay in match because of an injury Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal).
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Substitution, Burnley. Wilson Odobert replaces Vitinho.
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Attempt missed. Dara O’Shea (Burnley) with an attempt from the left side of the six yard box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Jóhann Gudmundsson with a cross following a corner.
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Corner, Burnley. Conceded by Takehiro Tomiyasu.
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Substitution, Burnley. Michael Obafemi replaces Josh Brownhill.