Arsenal analysis: Petr Cech helps Gunners capitalise in top four race, but Jack Wilshere running out of time

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James Olley26 November 2017

Clarets defender James Tarkowski was penalised for his shove on Aaron Ramsey in the 91st minute and Sanchez made no mistake from the spot to clinch the Gunners just their second league win on the road this season.

It was cruel on Burnley. Arsenal skipper Laurent Koscielny struck a controversial winner in time added on in the corresponding fixture last season and Sanchez's late spot-kick sank Sean Dyche's side at the Emirates in January this year.

James Olley assesses the key talking points at Turf Moor...

Gunners move into the top four

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There won’t be many weekends when Tottenham, Liverpool and Chelsea all drop points.

Arsenal arrived at Turf Moor knowing a win would send them into the top four but whether distracted by the traffic which delayed their journey to the stadium or the bitter Lancashire conditions, the Gunners did not get going until after half-time.

Credit must go to Burnley - who could also, remarkably, have moved into the Champions League places with a victory - who displayed great defensive resilience and lionhearted commitment to the cause.

But Arsenal dug in and found a way to win as Alexis Sanchez converted a stoppage-time penalty after James Tarkowski was adjudged to have fouled Aaron Ramsey.

A draw here would have felt like an acceptable result in the circumstances, but a last-gasp winner should give Arsenal a shot in the arm ahead of home games against Huddersfield and Manchester United.

Cech proves his worth

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Arsenal’s best player in the first half was goalkeeper Petr Cech, who helped the visitors weather early Burnley pressure with an assured, composed performance.

Nothing Cech did was necessarily spectacular - although his save to tip Johann Berg Gudmundsson’s shot onto the post early on was excellent - but he brought stability to a defensive regularly tested in the air with deep crosses, usually to the back post in an effort to find space either side of Arsenal’s back three.

Cech turns 36 next May but he remains the best goalkeeper the Gunners possess, and he was key in keeping it tight before Arsenal snatched it at the death.

Wilshere snub leaves future finely balanced

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Jack Wilshere told Standard Sport after Arsenal’s defeat in Cologne that “time was running out” for him to salvage his Gunners career, and so he may have felt likely to get the nod when Mesut Ozil’s absence through illness was confirmed.

Yet Wenger opted to start Alex Iwobi in what was clearly a nod to Burnley’s impressive form this season, having utilised the Nigerian international’s positional discipline in big away games at Chelsea and Manchester City this season.

Wilshere replaced Iwobi for the final 23 minutes here - almost winning the game late on with a deflected shot - but he is desperate for greater involvement, especially with just one match remaining in Europe before February.

With talks due next month to determine his future as he enters the final six months of his current contract, time is indeed in short supply to get the game-time he needs to push for a place in England’s World Cup squad.