MATCH REPORT: ARSENAL 3 – 1 BURNLEY

Clarets lose out to the Gunners at the Emirates

Burnley showed plenty of moments and created several chances in a battling display against the Gunners despite falling to a 3-1 defeat on a crisp afternoon in north London.

Arsenal took the lead on the stroke of half time through Leandro Trossard’s strike before Josh Brownhill pulled the scores level 10 minutes into the second half.

Goals from William Saliba and Oleksandr Zinchenko then sealed the three points for the hosts at the Emirates.

Manager Vincent Kompany named an unchanged side from the XI that played Crystal Palace last weekend which saw Charlie Taylor make his 200th appearance and Vitinho’s 50th.

Josh Cullen returned to the matchday squad following his suspension, with Michael Obafemi also included on the bench for the first time this season after his injury picked up in the summer.

First Half

An early effort fell to the Gunners as Gabriel glanced a header over the crossbar from a corner before the Clarets then forced their first corner two minutes later as Amdouni’s stinging effort was palmed wide by Raya.

After a fairly even opening in London, Trafford was forced into action with 20 minutes on the clock as the Burnley No.1 fantastically tipped over Saka’s top-corner bound strike.

The Gunners then had another chance to take the lead as Havertz saw his free header from Saka’s corner powered over the crossbar from just three yards out.

But Burnley again looked to respond to Arsenal’s pressure and had a glorious opportunity when Gabriel’s miskick played Gudmundsson through on goal, with the Icelandic winger forcing Raya into a low save before Gabriel cleared the danger.

Trossard was next up to attempt at breaking the deadlock with the break approaching but Trafford again was equal to it and pushed away the Belgian’s fierce effort for a corner.

The former Brighton man did convert his next chance though after latching onto Saka’s header at the back post and heading home on the line to give Arteta’s side the lead on the stroke of half time.

Second Half

Despite heading into the break behind, the Clarets came out on the front foot in the second half and got their equaliser through a well worked goal.

Koleosho raced down the left beating Tomiyasu before breaking into the area and seeing his delivery only cleared out to Brownhill to fire home into the bottom corner past Raya and wheel away in joy to the travelling Clarets to the left of the goal.

However, the lead lasted just three minutes as Saliba rose highest from Trossard’s corner to guide the ball into the back of the net from a couple of yards out.

With not much action for either side across the hour mark, Zinchenko then added a third for the hosts in the 74th minute after a corner ball eventually fell to the Ukrainian to acrobatically finish into the top corner.

The Gunners were reduced to 10 men with eight minutes left on the clock as Vieira was shown a red card for a rash challenge on Brownhill.

Burnley: Trafford, O’Shea, Beyer, Vitinho (Odobert 87), Taylor, Brownhill (Obafemi 84), Gudmundsson, Berge, Amdouni (Ramsey 80), Koleosho (Bruun Larsen 80), Rodriguez

Unused substitutes: Vigouroux, Roberts, Redmond, Cullen, Delcroix

Arsenal: Raya, Saliba, Gabriel, Tomiyasu, Zinchenko, Havertz (Vieira 58), Jorginho, Rice, Saka (Nelson 80), Martinelli (Kiwior 88), Trossard (Nketiah 80)

Unused substitutes: Ramsdale, Elneny, Ibrahim, Sagoe JR, Walters

Goals: Trossard 45+2’, Brownhill 54’, Saliba 57’, Zinchenko 74’,