Match report: Burnley 1-1 Arsenal

By Chris Harris

WHAT HAPPENED

We had to settle for a point at Turf Moor after a dramatic game that we really should have won.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang gave us an early lead and we could have added further goals before a pass from Granit Xhaka hit Chris Wood and flew into our net.

We had a huge penalty shout turned down in a frenetic finale - and Dani Ceballos hit the post with virtually the last kick of the match.

At the end we were left to reflect on missed opportunities, controversial decisions and two valuable points dropped.

We came out of the blocks quickly and took a deserved lead early on.

Thomas Partey started the move, swapping passes with Xhaka and finding Willian. He surged forward and picked out Aubameyang, who shimmied inside a defender and got enough pace behind his shot to beat Nick Pope at his near post.

It was our captain's 14th goal of the season, and he almost added a second when his clever run into the box was picked out by Partey's clipped pass. The ball fell Aubameyang's away but he couldn't beat Pope.

We looked authoritative and assured, and our crisp passing and movement brought us further chances.

A big one fell to Bukayo Saka following a one-two with Aubameyang. Saka got lucky when the ball hit off a defender and rolled into his path, but he stabbed the ball just wide.

Partey was next to go close, shooting just over after excellent approach play from Saka and Martin Odegaard.

We were completely in charge but Burnley equalised in bizarre fashion when Xhaka's attempted pass to David Luiz from inside our penalty area hit Wood and ricocheted into the net.

The goal - completely out of the blue - galvanised Burnley. And they had the better of the second half until a breathless finale.

Pepe, on as a substitute, screamed for a penalty after Erik Pieters struck the ball with his arm. But VAR did not intervene.

Pepe missed a great chance to put us ahead after good work from Kieran Tierney, and Pepe was involved again when his volley from Saka's cross was diverted onto the bar by Pieters.

This time the referee showed Pieters a red card and awarded us a penalty, but that decision was correctly overturned by VAR after replays showed the ball hit Pieters on the shoulder.

There was still time for Burnley to go close, and Ceballos curled a shot against the post in stoppage time. But we had to make do with a draw.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Get the full story of our trip to Turf Moor with our play-by-play updates

WHAT IT MEANS

MATCH FACTS

Only Cesc Fabregas has reached 50 PL appearances for us at a younger age than Bukayo Saka

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has scored more PL goals against Burnley than he has any other side in the competition (8)

We're unbeaten in our last nine away league games against Burnley (W4 D5), keeping a clean sheet in three of their last five. Our last league defeat at Turf Moor was in December 1973

TEAM NEWS

Mikel Arteta made five changes to the starting line-up for this trip north.

Calum Chambers came in on the right of defence, Partey partnered Xhaka in midfield and Saka, Odegaard and Aubameyang all started further forward.

It was a notable game for Saka - his 50th in the Premier League.

This was also David Luiz's 50th league appearance in an Arsenal shirt, following a long stint at Chelsea.

Out of the side went Cedric, Mohamed Elneny, Pepe, Alex Lacazette and Emile Smith Rowe, who has almost shrugged off a minor hip problem.

WHAT'S NEXT

We've got four huge games ahead of the international break and they run Thursday-Sunday-Thursday-Sunday.

The first leg of our Europa League tie with Olympiacos is first, then it's the north London derby against Tottenham.

The second leg against Olympiacos is followed by another London derby - against West Ham United.