Premier League
ArsenalArsenal3BurnleyBurnley0

Arsenal 3-0 Burnley

By James GheerbrantBBC Sport
Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez celebrates
Alexis Sanchez has scored 10 goals in 11 starts this season
  • Arsenal earn consecutive league wins for first time this season
  • Sanchez scores ninth and 10th goals of the season
  • Chambers nets his first senior goal
  • Walcott makes first appearance since January

Arsenal recorded a second successive league win for the first time this season as Burnley's woes continued.

The Clarets frustrated Arsene Wenger's side for 70 minutes before the excellent Alexis Sanchez struck with a close-range header.

Calum Chambers then added his first senior goal from a corner as Burnley's resistance crumbled.

Arsenal 3-0 Burnley: Alexis Sanchez and Luis Suarez are similar - Wenger

Sanchez fired in his second from Kieran Gibbs's cross to leave Sean Dyche's side rooted to the bottom of the table.

The scoreline was harsh on Burnley, who defended manfully for much of the game, but once Arsenal discovered a cutting edge the visitors' rearguard was left brutally exposed.

The Gunners had been behind in each of their previous four home league games this season but a repeat of that scenario was never likely against a Burnley side who offered little going forward.

The hosts dominated possession in the opening exchanges but initially struggled to fashion clear-cut chances.

Walcott ends 10-month absence
Theo Walcott came on as a substitute in the 80th minute to make his first appearance since the FA Cup third-round win over Tottenham on 4 January.

Sanchez was their liveliest attacking outlet and it was he who created their best opportunity of the first period.

The Chilean played in Danny Welbeck, who skipped past two defenders and beat goalkeeper Tom Heaton only to see his shot come back off Kieran Trippier.

Heaton was in fine form, parrying well from two rasping Sanchez drives from outside the area.

Arsenal 3-0 Burnley: Sean Dyche realistic after Arsenal defeat

However, Burnley's biggest escape of the first 45 minutes came when George Boyd, who had already been booked, appeared to handle a corner but the offence was not seen by referee Craig Pawson.

The Clarets continued to hold firm after the interval to raise hopes of an unlikely point but Arsenal's breakthrough eventually arrived through the irrepressible Sanchez.

Chambers sent in a fine cross from the right and summer signing Sanchez got above Trippier to power in his ninth goal of the season.

Burnley's resistance was broken and Arsenal took just two minutes to add a second.

The Clarets failed to defend a corner and Chambers bundled home after Heaton had saved from Welbeck.

After Walcott was introduced, the Burnley keeper continued to impress, brilliantly denying Lukas Podolski.

But he could do nothing about Sanchez's second as the visitors slumped to a sixth league defeat.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger:

"It was a question of patience and quality and I think we did all of that. It was important not to concede a goal and in the end it was a comfortable win.

"It was a top performance from Alexis Sanchez. His quality is exceptional, he takes responsibility and goes at people. He fights, he can score, that is what you want from great players.

"That appearance from Theo Walcott gives him the confidence to play again. I think he will soon be back to his best level."

Burnley manager Sean Dyche:

"They are a high quality side. They create chances and it could have been more.

"We had been solid before Tom Heaton had to make great saves but after they scored they opened the game up. They have pace, power and energy but they also have tactical awareness.

"It's not just about one win. We need more than one win, make no mistake. That is the challenge. It is a high state of learning in the Premier League."

Alexis Sanchez is denied by Burnley goalkeeper Tom Heaton
Burnley keeper Tom Heaton has not kept a clean sheet since the draw with Sunderland on 20 September
Theo Walcott replaces Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Theo Walcott made his first appearance since January
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is tackled by Burnley's Scott Arfield
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain could not add to his one league goal this season

Line-ups

Arsenal

Formation 4-2-3-1

  • 1Szczesny
  • 21Chambers
  • 4Mertesacker
  • 18Monreal
  • 3Gibbs
  • 8ArtetaSubstituted forRamseyat 63'minutes
  • 20Flamini
  • 15Oxlade-ChamberlainSubstituted forWalcottat 80'minutes
  • 17Sánchez
  • 19Cazorla
  • 23WelbeckSubstituted forPodolskiat 80'minutes

Substitutes

  • 7Rosicky
  • 9Podolski
  • 14Walcott
  • 16Ramsey
  • 22Sanogo
  • 26E Martínez
  • 39Bellerin

Burnley

Formation 4-4-1-1

  • 1Heaton
  • 2Trippier
  • 4Duff
  • 5Shackell
  • 23Ward
  • 21BoydBooked at 16mins
  • 8MarneySubstituted forChalobahat 80'minutes
  • 14Jones
  • 37Arfield
  • 10Ings
  • 17SordellSubstituted forJutkiewiczat 69'minutes

Substitutes

  • 6Mee
  • 7Wallace
  • 11Kightly
  • 19Jutkiewicz
  • 20Chalobah
  • 22Gilks
  • 25Keane
Referee:
Craig Pawson
Attendance:
60,012

Match Stats

Home TeamArsenalAway TeamBurnley
Possession
Home68%
Away32%
Shots
Home32
Away6
Shots on Target
Home12
Away2
Corners
Home18
Away1
Fouls
Home5
Away9

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Arsenal 3, Burnley 0.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Arsenal 3, Burnley 0.

  3. Post update

    Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  4. Post update

    Foul by David Jones (Burnley).

  5. Post update

    Attempt saved. Danny Ings (Burnley) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.

  6. Goal!

    Goal! Arsenal 3, Burnley 0. Alexis Sánchez (Arsenal) right footed shot from very close range to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Kieran Gibbs with a cross.

  7. Post update

    Lukas Podolski (Arsenal) wins a free kick on the left wing.

  8. Post update

    Foul by George Boyd (Burnley).

  9. Post update

    Attempt missed. Per Mertesacker (Arsenal) header from the left side of the six yard box misses to the right. Assisted by Santiago Cazorla with a cross following a corner.

  10. Post update

    Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by George Boyd.

  11. Post update

    Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Tom Heaton.

  12. Post update

    Attempt saved. Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.

  13. Post update

    Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Kieran Trippier.

  14. Post update

    Attempt missed. Lukas Podolski (Arsenal) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Alexis Sánchez with a cross.

  15. Post update

    Lukas Podolski (Arsenal) hits the bar with a left footed shot from the centre of the box. Assisted by Theo Walcott with a cross.

  16. Post update

    Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Tom Heaton.

  17. Post update

    Attempt saved. Theo Walcott (Arsenal) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Alexis Sánchez.

  18. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Lukas Podolski.

  19. Post update

    Attempt saved. Lukas Podolski (Arsenal) left footed shot from very close range is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Santiago Cazorla with a cross.

  20. Post update

    Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Jason Shackell.

As It Stood

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Chelsea1082026101626
2Southampton107122151622
3Man City95221910917
4Arsenal104511811717
5West Ham105231914517
6Swansea104331310315
7Liverpool104241313014
8Man Utd93421613313
9Everton103431917213
10West Brom103431313013
11Newcastle103431115-413
12Stoke103341012-212
13Hull102531314-111
14Tottenham93241113-211
15Aston Villa9315414-1010
16Crystal Palace92341316-39
17Leicester102351116-59
18Sunderland9153817-98
19QPR10217920-117
20Burnley10046519-144
View full Premier League table