Martin Odegaard’s outstanding free-kick was enough to complete back-to-back victories for Arsenal after Burnley had a penalty award overturned by VAR.
2021/2022 Premier League
0-1
Match Report
Odegaard was inch-perfect with his left foot after half-an-hour to grant further relief to manager Mikel Arteta who saw his team lose their first three league games without scoring before breaking their duck against Norwich last weekend.
But Burnley, who gave £15million winger Maxwel Cornet his debut from the bench, were unable to celebrate Sean Dyche signing a new four-year contract on Thursday.
They thought they’d earned a penalty midway through the second half when Aaron Ramsdale appeared to trip Matej Vydra and referee Anthony Taylor pointed to spot, only for replays to show the goalkeeper had got a touch on the ball first.
The result puts Arsenal in good cheer ahead of their north London derby against Spurs next weekend but Burnley are still looking for their first win at Turf Moor since January – a run of 13 games.
Arsenal’s £45million midfielder Thomas Partey returned from injury for his first start of the season while Dyche named an unchanged side – in keeping with his nine years of stability at the club.
With England manager Gareth Southgate watching on, Arsenal stroked the ball without Burnley being able to lay a glove on them in the opening half-hour with Kieran Tierney a particular threat down the left.
The absence of any Lancashire wind and rain seemed to give the visitors confidence to play their game and they struck after 30 minute when Bukayo Saka’s run towards the penalty area was stopped by Ashley Westwood clipping his heels.
Three Arsenal players stood around the kick but it was Odegaard who took responsibility and curled into the corner beyond Nick Pope’s despairing dive.
It was the Norwegian’s first goal for The Gunners since turning his loan from Real Madrid into a permanent £30million move in the summer.
The Clarets rallied after falling behind with Aaron Ramsdale saving from Johan Gudmundsson and the excellent Gabriel making an acrobatic overhead clearance to deny Ashley Barnes.
Arsenal also squandered chances to go 2-0 ahead by half-time. Emile Smith-Rowe missed the target from eight yards and last-ditch tackle by Matt Lowton denied Saka.
Burnley were more direct in the second half and the volume went up when Cornet was introduced shortly before the hour.
The former Lyon player had a chance to make an immediate impact but Ramsdale tipped his effort from 12 yards over the bar.
Arteta responded by toughening up midfield with Sambi Lokonga on for Smith-Rowe just past the hour.
Pepe mistimed a pass to put Aubameyang clean through to wrap up the points and then the roles were reversed with the Arsenal skipper taking a heavy touch when Pepe was in the clear.
The visitors, and particularly £50mililion defender Ben White, then received a huge let-off when his weak backpass was seized upon by Vydra who fell to the ground as Ramsdale came out.
The initial decision was penalty but the ruling was overturned when Mr Taylor was asked to go and check the monitor. Ramsdale got a slight nick on the ball before making contact with the striker.
Dyche, who often complains Burnley don’t get enough penalties, looked hacked off but it was the right call by the finest of margins. And so his long wait for three points on home soil goes on.
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
1' KICK-OFF! Who can win this match?
6' Pepe's chance missed
15' Barnes' header wide out
18' Yellow Card! Barnes booked
29' GOAL! Burnley 0-1 Arsenal (Martin Odegaard)
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45' Smith Rowe's shot wide out
53' Smith Rowe's shot denied
63' Subs! Lokonga replaces Smith Rowe
68' Burnley penalty disallowed after VAR review
78' McNeil hits the side-nets
86' McNeil's shot blocked
Line-ups
Burnley XI: Gudmundsson, Barnes, Westwood, Wood, Lowton, Mee, Tarkowski, Taylor, Pope, Brownhill, McNeil
Subs: Lennon, Pieters, Bardsley, Hennessey, Jay Rodriguez, Cork, Vydra, Cornet, N. Collins
Arsenal XI: Aubameyang, Partey, Pepe, Tierney, Martin Odegaard, Tomiyasu, Gabriel, Ramsdale, B. White, Smith Rowe, Saka
Subs: Lacazette, Leno, Cedric, Mari, Maitland-Niles, Holding, A. Lokonga, Martinelli, Nuno Tavares