Burnley 0 Arsenal 1: Five things we learnt as Laurent Koscielny’s late winner papers over cracks for third-placed Gunners
Arsenal can still struggle to turn possession into chances, Mesut Ozil is not yet the finished article for the Prem- and Burnley look better equipped than two years ago to stay up
LAURENT KOSCIELNY'S controversial winner in stoppage-time papered over Arsenal's old failings as they rose to third in the Premier League.
The Gunners mostly struggled to turn possession into penetration as stubborn Burnley defended well and conjured two excellent chances of their own.
So what are five of the main things we learnt from a display that, for 92 minutes, seemed to be feeding the arch-critics of Arsenal chief Arsene Wenger?
1: Arsenal can't rely on Alexis Sanchez for attacking inspiration
The Chilean striker provided two of the few clear moments of danger, including a whip-speed shot on the turn against the outside of the post at the height of Arsenal's second-half pressure.
But Burnley's solid shape and Arsenal's narrow midfield meant the Gunners rarely even reached the home side's penalty area.
Arsenal still produced 18 goal attempts - but only three on target.
2: Burnley look better equipped to stay up than two seasons ago.
Sean Dyche's tightly-knit squad have six teams below them in the Prem and snuffed out the Gunners like few sides have so far this season.
In striker Sam Vokes and defender Michael Keane they have dominant headers of the ball at either end of the field.
And boss Sean Dyche is showing the type of tactical nous and squad-uniting ability that might just make the difference.
3: Arsenal can struggle against defensive sides when Arsene Wenger's side lack width
Burnley wideman George Boyd shut out the danger of overlapping Gunners' right-back Hector Bellerin - and Mesut Ozil topped the list of under-achieving Arsenal midfielders.
Central stars like Ozil and Santi Cazorla could need the outlet of a classy winger when the Gunners run out of ideas - or into such a well-organised unit as the Clarets.
Theo Walcott - fielded out wide for most of his Arsenal career - has adapted well to his more orthodox striking. But his sheer pace and unpredictability out wide, even as an impact substitute, have been missed.
4: Burnley troubled Arsenal every time they played a decent ball into the middle
OK - this was not very often as the Clarets only had 33 per cent of possession and scarcely put together concerted attacks.
But one of the old criticisms of Wenger's Gunners - that they lack dictating centre-backs - looked relevant here and might be an issue against more powerful opposition.
5: The Gunners have the feeling of a title-challenging side who can win while playing badly
Prem giants have been renowned for this, of course - especially, perhaps, the Manchester United of old boss Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourinho's peak-time Chelsea.
And Arsenal too have always had a habit of bagging crucial late goals.
This season, though, it just feels that more often than not it will be to win a match, not save it.
The big question is: Do the Gunners really have the flair from all angles to do this often enough?
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