Arsenal drop points again and fail to close the gap on the top six as Granit Xhaka’s calamitous error gifted Burnley a 1-1 draw at Turf Moor.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang opened the scoring after just six minutes.
However, a familiar theme continued for the Gunners this season when Xhaka’s misplaced pass bounced-off Chris Wood to level the scores.
The visitors came close to claiming all three points when the game sprung to life in the final 10 minutes. Nicolas Pepe and Dani Ceballos both went close, only to be denied by the woodwork.
Burnley came into the game looking to complete league double
Burnley came into the fixture looking to complete their first league double over Arsenal since the 1962/63 season. Having enjoyed a 1-0 victory at the Emirates in December.
This didn’t look likely when the away side took advantage of their fast start. They went ahead before the 10 minute mark.
Thomas Partey was the architect behind the break. He found Willian through the middle with space to run into, and options either side of him.
The Brazilian opted for his captain on the left. It allowed Aubameyang to cut inside and finish low at Nick Pope’s near post. Perhaps the keeper should have kept his effort out.
Mikel Arteta’s side were cruising after taking control of the game so early. They nearly doubled their lead when Bukayo Saka burst through on the right.
With the ball bouncing around in the area it broke to the 19-year-old after a slightly fortuitous ricochet. However, he was unable to compose himself and find the bottom corner.
As the game approached half-time Arsenal’s old habits came back to haunt them! Their persistence to play out from the back led to the equaliser.
Arsenal drop points
Bernd Leno passed Xhaka the ball with his back to goal, while being closed down, causing the Swiss international to attempt a pass across the face of goal which was deflected by Wood into the net.
Arsenal looked to pick themselves up, bringing on Alexandre Lacazette and Nicolas Pepe, with the latter almost making an instant impact.
Pepe’s driving run into the box was halted by Eric Pieters arm, with what looked to be a clear handball, but VAR came to the dubious decision that it wasn’t a penalty.
Pieters short cameo was turning out to be an eventful one when his speculative volley from outside the box was tipped over by Leno.
Shorty after, VAR was once again the talking point when referee Andre Marriner deemed Pieters to clear Pepe’s volley onto the crossbar with his arm.
Marriner’s original decision of a red card and a penalty was correctly overruled following a short break in play.
Then in the last minute of stoppage time, Dani Ceballos came agonisingly close to scoring the winner, as his first-time effort crashed off the post meaning the score stayed at 1-1 meaning Arsenal drop points again.
