Arsenal 3 Burnley 1: Zinchenko scissor-kick adds gloss to scoreline as Gunners get back to winning ways in Prem
OLEKSANDR ZINCHENKO’S spectacular goal sealed the victory that sent Arsenal second in the Premier League.
Burnley stunned the Emirates when Josh Brownhill’s deflected effort cancelled out a Leandro Trossard header at the end of the first half.
But after William Saliba quickly restored the Gunners’ lead, Zinchenko let rip with a left-foot rocket.
Arsenal were far from their best, yet good enough to overcome a game but limited Burnley side who were twice let down by goalkeeper James Trafford.
Gunners substitute Fabio Vieira was sent off for a foul on Brownhill late on.
But a week which began with boss Mikel Arteta seeing red over VAR decisions otherwise ended positively for the home side.
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Arsenal bossed possession and territory for the first half, but the Clarets went closest to scoring before Trossard’s opener.
A Saliba mistake left Johann Gudmundsson bearing down on goal and David Raya did really well to get his left hand down to keep out the shot.
The Gunners struggled to create chances from open play. But with seconds left of the half, Zinchenko crossed, Bukayo Saka headed the ball back across goal and the Belgian beat a reticent Trafford to nod the ball home.
Trossard needed treatment after colliding with the post but knowing his bravery had broken the deadlock may have numbed the pain a little.
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Burnley almost hit back inside the first half minute of the second half. Luca Koleosho charged through but Saliba made a good last-ditch intervention after initially being done for pace.
Both were involved again in the equaliser eight minutes later.
Koleosho was too strong for Takehiro Tomiyasu and Brownhill’s on-target shot was deflected into the net by Salba, past a wrong-footed Raya. A VAR check for a foul by Koleosho confirmed there was nothing wrong with the goal.
Redemption arrived quickly for Saliba.
After Trafford had kept out a Gabriel Martinelli effort, the Burnley ‘keeper was far too weak in allowing the Frenchman to head home Trossard’s corner from close range.
But there was nothing Trafford could do about Zinchenko’s strike.
Another Trossard corner led to Dara O’Shea sending the ball against his own crossbar and the ball dropped invitingly for the Ukrainian.
With an agile hitch-kick and swing of the left boot he sent the ball flying into the net. An otherwise good day for the Gunners was marred when Vieira caught Brownhill on the shin and referee Michael Oliver showed him a straight red.
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Not even Arteta could complain about that decision and he will certainly be happy with the result.
Jorginho suffered a late kick in the head that drew blood but this time it was not the Arsenal boss seeing red.