Key events
Gunnersaurus is doing push-ups as the players and their families gather on the pitch. And on that note … goodnight. Here’s David Hytner’s report:
Gursimran Grewal writes in:
It’s feels like they’re trying to put me through the emotional ringer on purpose
Michael in the USA says:
Last I checked, the point of taking a corner was to try to put the biscuit in the basket. Arsenal are good at it. Should that not be a positive?
Arsenal have won four league games in a row since their loss by Manchester City last month, three of them 1-0 victories. It ain’t pretty but fair play.
Let us be frank: that second half was a pretty dire watch. Arsenal were rock-solid at the back, Burnley offering little going forward. David Raya didn’t have to make a save.
Manchester City have to win tomorrow.
FULL-TIME: Arsenal 1-0 Burnley
Arteta erupts. It’s Manchester City’s turn.
90+9 min: Walker sends in a long throw … but Arsenal keep their cool. Arteta is waving his arms about, desperate for that whistle.
90+7 min: Burnley aren’t offering any late threat.
90+6 min: Martinelli looks to be through on goal … but Walker’s still got wheels. The former City right-back is back to put off the sub.
90+4 min: Pires’ foot is far too high, even as he wins the ball in midfield. The ref waves a yellow.
90+2 min: Martinelli and Zubimendi are getting ready to come on … they replace Trossard and Ødegaard.
90+1 min: We’ve got seven minutes added on. Lucas Pires crosses into the Arsenal area … and Flemming smashes into Raya to go in the book. Ouch.
90 min: Arsenal’s off-the-ball work means Burnley aren’t really getting anywhere when they’ve got a hold of it.
88 min: Trossard picks up on the scraps of a free-kick into the mixer, trying an audacious volley. It flies wide.
87 min: Kári Tulinius writes in:
The reason Kai Havertz got away with that dreadful challenge is the same reason people keep being surprised that he’s a good header of the ball: He’s actually 6 foot 4, but in affect and spirit he’s 5 foot 8.
86 min: Have Burnley got a scare in them? They buildup slowly at the back before Pires tries to dribble through the middle … he can’t get past Rice.
85 min: Gyökeres gets the crowd on their feet just for helping win a throw.
83 min: Gyökeres is hassling about up top for Arsenal, nearly making something of a Raya long ball.
82 min: Burnley keep the changes coming, with Bruun Larsen and Humphreys coming on.
78 min: Gyökeres rushes to challenge Weiss before the forward goes down … and Arsenal want a penalty again. Nah, mate.
77 min: Hincapié goes down in the area … and his shorts come down with him, too. It’s definitely not a penalty.
76 min: Tchaouna is down for Burnley after an off-the-ball clash with Hincapié. There’s been no flow to the game for the last 10 minutes with plenty of stoppages.
74 min: Arsenal have a free-kick on the right … and it’s a rare waste. Rice overdoes the delivery.
72 min: Three players are coming on for Arsenal: Gyökeres, Hincapié and Lewis-Skelly replace Havertz, Calafiori and Eze.
70 min: Amdouni replaces Hannibal for Burnley. Ugochukwu goes off, too, replaced by Laurent.
69 min: Well, well, well, it’s not overturned. Havertz’s studs were high and on Ugochukwu. But the Arsenal forward remains on the field.
68 min: Oooh, Havertz’s foot was far too high on Ugochukwu. VAR’s having a look. That’s a dreadful challenge.
67 min: Eze needlessly gives the ball away with an attempted backheel in midfield but Burnley don’t cause any bother. Havertz slides in on Ugochukwu to get a yellow.
64 min: Anthony has been Burnley’s most dangerous man but Arsenal don’t look all too stressed at the moment. The players that is – Mikel Arteta is restless on the touchline.
63 min: Rice whips in to the front post before an offside flag pauses the game.
62 min: Mosquera is down on the right and Arsenal have a free-kick ….
60 min: Burnley double up on Saka out on the wing, but the England forward has a chance moments later … he smashes it into the side-netting.
57 min: Burnley are still in this as Hannibal finds far too much room outside the Arsenal area. He boots the ball back to Burnley, though.
55 min: Lovely from Arsenal. Trossard drinks the ball into the left channel for Havertz, who hooks it into the middle for Eze to head … it’s blocked, sucking any power out of the effort.
54 min: Mosquera crosses from the right and Eze slams a volley into the ground, with Weiss tipping the bouncing ball over the bar. Or maybe not: it’s given as a goalkick.
52 min: Anthony now finds himself on the right and he sends in a delicious cross into the middle, but Flemming is nowhere to be seen. That was a proper chance.
51 min: It’s all a bit too calm at the moment. Arsenal aren’t really forcing it … but here’s Anthony after Eze misplaces a pass. The Burnley man cuts in from the left … and launches high. Eze raises his hand in apology.
49 min: Ødegaard receives in his own half before driving forward, down the right. Burnley hold the fort.
48 min: Burnley knock it around at the back before Weiss goes long … and Arsenal begin their own spell of possession.
46 min: And we are back.
Ben Barclay believes in Mike Jackson’s master plan:
Burnley have Arsenal right where they want them. No point going up a goal, and sparking a furious come back. Better to wait until the 80th minute and score a Hail Mary equaliser.
Sky are speaking to Ødegaard at half-time. Just don’t see the point of it. Let the guy have a breather.
Øivind Idsø writes in:
Ok, so Arsenal have scored more than 25 per cent of their goals on a corner this season, and that is in the PL alone.
Just confirms that this season is a complete write-off in terms of entertainment.
Hey, don’t call me bitter just because I support Liverpool!!
But still.
HALF-TIME: Arsenal 1-0 Burnley
It’s not been box-office but Arsenal have their precious goal.
45+2 min: Burnley have a moment of promise on the right wing but waste it, failing to cross into a crowded area before the half-time whistle is blown.
44 min: Havertz drifts to the right, plays the ball to Saka, who goes for a curler … it’s narrowly wide. The winger is causing plenty of bother.
43 min: Ødegaard goes a little too heavy with a pass Saka was trying to get to.
41 min: Anthony skips down the right and puts the ball into the net for Burnley … but the whistle had long gone for a foul on Eze.
40 min: Rice is back in the Arsenal area to boot the ball away for a Burnley corner … it doesn’t bring the hosts any trouble.
Saka dinks a lovely ball into the mixer and Havertz, wearing an invisible jet-pack, rises high at the front post, a glancing header enough to give Arsenal the lead.
GOAL! Arsenal 1-0 Burnley (Havertz 37)
Arsenal. Corner. Goal. Standard.
37 min: Here come Arsenal again as Calafiori pulls the ball back for Ødegaard … his low drive is deflected for a corner …
36 min: VAR’s had a look and said no! There’s a tangle of legs between Saka and Lucas Pires. Gary Neville isn’t sure on comms and agrees with the ref and VAR.
34 min: Flemming misplaces a pass when Burnley have the chance to counter … and here come Arsenal down the left, the ball rolled into the middle. Saka emerges ready to tap in, and he goes down! Penalty?
33 min: Burnley’s defensive shape is holding up quite well.
30 min: Saka scoops a cross from the right that leaves a back-pedalling Weiss briefly worried.
