Arsenal extended their record run to 14 consecutive FA Cup wins with a return to winning ways against Burnley. Alexis Sanchez and Alex Iwobi led the attacking charge for Arsenal, with both putting in excellent performances.
Arsene Wenger fielded a strong but rotated team with nine changes against Championship high-flyers Burnley. Mohamed Elneny made his Arsenal debut and Francis Coquelin and Alexis Sanchez both returned to the starting line-up after prolonged injury absences. Alex Iwobi was awarded a start at the no.10 after some fine substitute appearances, and Calum Chambers, Kieran Gibbs and Gabriel came in to make up the defence, with Per Mertesacker suspended.
Burnley had the first chance of the match, with Andre Gray knocking the ball over the bar from inside the box. However, it was Arsenal with the brighter start, asserting their dominance over Burnley and Alexis reasserting his own role as the club’s most potent attacking threat.
Another Laurent Koscielny slip afforded Burnley an excellent chance to take the lead, but Gray lacked the composure to slip the ball past Davi Ospina. Burnley worked hard and set up defensively. Arsenal were forced to one-touch passing around the box in attempt to bypass the rows of tenacious Burnley defenders, but it eventually paid off.
The most unlikely of scorers, Calum Chambers, put Arsenal ahead in the 16th minute with a delightfully crafted opening goal and swerving finish past the Burnley keeper. Iwobi and Alexis intricately bypassed several Burnley defenders for Chambers to apply the final fantastic finish from the outside of his boot.
It was the Arsenal show in the first half, with Burnley defenders unable to handle the Gunners’ fast passing football. Iwobi, afforded Mesut Ozil’s usual central berth, had some delightful touches and was an integral part of Arsenal’s win.
Sam Vokes equalised after half an hour, heading the ball into the ground and eventually the net. Despite Arsenal’s attacking flair, a failure to properly defend a cross let them down. Gibbs was somehow to be found fouling Frqncis Coquelin in front of the penalty box, epitomising a true Arsenal defensive calamity.
A phenomenal Arsenal counter-attack saw them go ahead 2-1 five minutes into the second half. The Chilean rocketed the ball into the top corner. Alexis’ determination was integral to the goal, along with Iwobi’s excellent decision-making
Burnley managed to clear one off the line a couple of minutes later to prevent Arsenal from closing off the game. The Gunners continued to comfortably dominate the second half, apart from some dangerous and determined Burnley surges late in the second half.
A key second half moment was the return of Tomas Rosicky, who has not featured in the first team since May last season. Whilst he did not make any significant contributions, he should be an important addition in the title run-in. Theo Walcott, substituted on for Alexis late in the second half, missed a golden one-on-one chance against Burnley ‘keeper Tom Heaton to seal the match deep into stoppage time.
It was an Arsenal performance that lacked clinical bite but the Gunners did enough to see off Burnley and Aaron Ramsey, Ozil and co. will certainly benefit from a week off. Elneny enjoyed a fairly comfortable debut, although he was perhaps guilty of trying too hard to impress, and the return of Alexis is vital to the Gunners’ hopes of continuing to progress on all three fronts.
The draw for the fifth round will take place on Sunday at 6:15pm and Arsenal return to the Emirates on Tuesday to face Southampton.
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