Arsenal 3-1 Burnley. 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.
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.
source Mbare Times
