Burnley 1-1 Arsenal
by Layth Yousif

AN AWFUL Granit Xhaka error, the woodwork, VAR and resolute Burnley defending conspired to deny Arsenal victory, as Mikel Arteta’s side drew 1-1 at Turf Moor.

In the Saturday-lunchtime fixture, an early goal by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was cancelled by Chris Wood’s reply, following Xhaka’s game-changing mistake.

The visitors had looked comfortable as the interval neared. But, as has happened many times, Arsenal switched off when coasting, and Burnley were gifted an equaliser.

Given Arsenal’s propensity to play out from the back, it is surprising how badly they undertake such a risky tactic.

On 39 minutes, Bernd Leno played the ball to Xhaka, who, facing his keeper, attempted a sloppy square ball across goal to David Luiz. Unfortunately the 28-year-old midfielder only succeeded in striking Wood, before the ball bounced into an empty net for 1-1.

Since his debut five years ago, Xhaka has produced more errors leading to goals than any other top-flight player: eight.

It was a mistake as disheartening as it was needless. The first half summed up Arsenal in a microcosm: lively, entertaining, error-ridden and deeply frustrating.

The Gunners had gone 1-0 ahead on 15 minutes when Aubameyang bamboozled Matt Lowton before cutting in and firing past Nick Pope at his near post to make it eight goals in seven games against the Clarets.

The Gunners captain was played in by Willian — who made it five assists for the season — to cap a flowing move instigated by Thomas Partey, who prompted a succession of attacks from deep throughout.

On 22 minutes, Bukayo Saka — on his 50th Premier League appearance — missed a chance to double the lead from close range after linking well with Aubameyang, before driving the ball narrowly past Pope’s far post.

And Saka was part of another sweeping raid that moved the ball effortlessly from the backline to the Burnley box, as Martin Odegaard teed up Partey, whose powerful side-footed shot flew over.

The percussive noise of the ball striking empty seats only served to highlight the disconcerting silence of a Turf Moor without supporters.

The spring sunshine lit up the players, as well as the tightly packed terraced houses and mill tower beyond the Bob Lord Stand, a Lowry-esque vista were it not for the absence of fans — and the fact that Burnley is now a post-industrial town.  

In a strange spell, Erik Pieters handled a Nicolas Pepe cross, but VAR official Kevin Friend failed to bring the incident to referee Andre Marriner’s attention.

"If [that] isn’t an obvious and clear penalty someone has to come to the training ground and explain what a handball is. It cannot be any clearer," said Arteta afterwards.

Then Pieters, who had replaced the injured Charlie Taylor, forced Leno to tip over from 30 yards. And more drama followed when Marriner awarded a penalty against Pieters.

But the spot-kick and the defender’s red card for deliberate handball were correctly overturned by VAR following replays showing that the 32-year-old had diverted Pepe’s volley from Saka’s cross onto the bar with his shoulder.

Pepe then missed the ball from a Kieran Tierney cutback, while Ben Mee blocked Aubameyang, before substitute Dani Ceballos hit the post.

But, as Marriner blew to end a hectic finale, the dropped points ensured Xhaka and Arsenal had another day to forget against the Clarets.