Arsenal claimed yet another late victory over Burnley as Alexis Sanchez converted a stoppage time penalty to earn Arsene Wenger a precious 1-0 win at Turf Moor.
Burnley centre-back James Tarkowski, brilliant throughout the match, made the critical error little over a minute before full-time as he pushed Aaron Ramsey in the area, handing the Gunners a surprise win that takes them above Tottenham and Liverpool and into the top four.
Sean Dyche’s side had defended excellently throughout and will doubtless take pride, if not points, from an exceptional rearguard display that ultimately proved to be in vain.
The visiting Gunners were without an ill Mesut Ozil, Alex Iwobi preferred to Jack Wilshere in a decision that could have major ramifications for the England playmaker’s future in north London.
Unsurprisingly, Burnley boss Dyche retained the side that had beaten Swansea 2-0 last week - but after a stylish display in that victory the Clarets reverted to a more simple style of football in a bid to spook Arsenal’s defence, always prone to struggle under the high ball.
Barring Shkodran Mustafi, those difficulties continued at Turf Moor, where Nacho Monreal would have conceded a penalty after 10 minutes for a push on Ashley Barnes had the Burnley striker not been flagged offside.
Dyche’s side are no longer just long ball merchants though and carved through Arsenal in style soon after, switching the ball swiftly from left to right and Johann Berg Gudmundsson, whose powerful effort clattered back off the post after the faintest of deflections from Petr Cech.
It wasn’t the only time the goalkeeper would come to Arsenal’s rescue, though Aaron Ramsey and Sead Kolasinac both spurned chances to give the visitors a first half lead. The former in particular should have done much better from Alexandre Lacazette’s cross, half-volleying an effort over Nick Pope’s bar.
The second half brought renewed vigour from Arsenal but, like so many opponents this season, they were funnelled by Burnley into the shots the Clarets wanted them to take. One could argue that Lacazette tested Pope with a low drive from outside the area, but the greater test was for the Frenchman to find the net from outside the area.
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Burnley had been on the receiving end of poor refereeing in last season’s 1-0 defeat on Turf Moor, but on this occasion luck seemed to be on their side when Robbie Brady got away with a clumsy tackle on Hector Bellerin in the area.
The Clarets showed no inclination to settle for a point, Dyche introducing striker Chris Wood for midfield general Steven Defour, while Arsenal’s own substitute Wilshere went close with a drive that deflected away off Tarkowski.
A game with a history of late goals brought drama yet again as Tarkowski shoved Ramsey. Sanchez, after a game in which all he had tried went wrong, hammered his spot kick past a diving Pope.