Granit Xhaka was sent off for violent conduct as a desperately poor Arsenal side were stunned at home by Premier League strugglers Burnley.
Gunners skipper Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s wretched run of form continued as he failed to score at the right end – and headed an own goal at the other end.
Burnley’s winner came after Xhaka was dismissed on 58 minutes for grabbing the throat of Clarets midfielder Ashley Westwood – the Swiss midfielder given a red card after referee David Coote reviewed the incident on the pitch-side monitor.
The Gunners had plenty of attempts at goal but most of them were dealt with comfortably by Nick Pope, a superb reflex save to keep out Alexandre Lacazette’s low strike aside.
Burnley’s victory lifts them out of the relegation zone, a point clear of Fulham, while Arsenal stay in a lowly 15th place.
Uninspired Arsenal falter again
Mikel Arteta will celebrate one year in charge of Arsenal on 26 December and his reign looked full of optimism when he led the club to FA Cup success last season.
Although they have reached the Europa League knockout stages this term, Arsenal’s league form has been woeful – they have lost seven of their past 10 games – and questions will soon be asked of Arteta’s capabilities.
There were 2,000 supporters in attendance at a subdued Emirates Stadium and those watching will have been less than pleased at their side’s showing, while it was all too much for one supporter who covered his eyes with his face mask.
The statistics make for equally unpleasant reading.
Arsenal have lost four straight home league games for the first time in 61 years and have now gone 12 hours and 32 top-flight minutes without finding the net.
Mesut Ozil has been banished from the first team, but they badly lack a player of his quality, someone who possesses the cutting edge to create chances in the final third.
Of their chances, Kieran Tierney had a drive smothered by the inspired Pope, while Saka’s strike was straight at the England international goalkeeper.
Lacazette had his side’s best chance in the opening period but the Frenchman now has just a solitary goal in his last 11 appearances, while Aubameyang – whose own goal settled the game – has scored only twice in the last 12 games.
They felt flat once Xhaka was shown a red card – the Switzerland international was initially awarded a yellow for a trip on Dwight McNeil but lost his cool when Westwood came in to remonstrate.
More to follow.
How to play
Rate players out of 10 throughout or after the game. The rater will close 30 minutes after the final whistle.
Rating range key = Give it up = Pure perfection
Arsenal
Starting XI
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Squad number1Player nameLenoAverage rating
3.42
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Squad number2Player nameBellerínAverage rating
2.77
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Squad number16Player nameHoldingAverage rating
3.13
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Squad number6Player nameGabriel MagalhãesAverage rating
3.25
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Squad number3Player nameTierneyAverage rating
3.70
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Squad number25Player nameMohamed ElnenyAverage rating
2.98
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Squad number34Player nameXhakaAverage rating
2.34
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Squad number12Player nameWillianAverage rating
2.57
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Squad number9Player nameLacazetteAverage rating
2.84
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Squad number7Player nameSakaAverage rating
3.54
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Squad number14Player nameAubameyangAverage rating
2.90
Substitutes
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Squad number8Player nameDani CeballosAverage rating
3.02
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Squad number15Player nameMaitland-NilesAverage rating
3.15
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Squad number30Player nameNketiahAverage rating
3.14
Burnley
Starting XI
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Squad number1Player namePope
Average rating8.01
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Squad number2Player nameLowton
Average rating7.74
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Squad number5Player nameTarkowski
Average rating8.07
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Squad number6Player nameMee
Average rating7.94
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Squad number3Player nameTaylor
Average rating7.89
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Squad number12Player nameBrady
Average rating7.88
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Squad number18Player nameWestwood
Average rating7.83
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Squad number8Player nameBrownhill
Average rating7.96
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Squad number11Player nameMcNeil
Average rating7.86
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Squad number19Player nameRodriguez
Average rating7.71
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Squad number9Player nameWood
Average rating7.67
Substitutes
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Squad number10Player nameBarnes
Average rating7.62
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Squad number27Player nameVydra
Average rating7.45
Line-ups
Arsenal
- 1Leno
- 2BellerínBooked at 71minsSubstituted forMaitland-Nilesat 74′minutes
- 16Holding
- 6Gabriel
- 3Tierney
- 25ElnenyBooked at 73mins
- 34XhakaBooked at 58mins
- 12WillianSubstituted forNketiahat 82′minutes
- 9LacazetteSubstituted forCeballosat 60′minutes
- 7Saka
- 14Aubameyang
Substitutes
- 8Ceballos
- 13Rúnarsson
- 15Maitland-Niles
- 20Mustafi
- 28Willock
- 30Nketiah
- 32Smith Rowe
Burnley
- 1Pope
- 2Lowton
- 5Tarkowski
- 6Mee
- 3Taylor
- 12BradyBooked at 33mins
- 18Westwood
- 8Brownhill
- 11McNeil
- 19RodriguezSubstituted forBarnesat 59′minutes
- 9WoodSubstituted forVydraat 70′minutes
Substitutes
- 10Barnes
- 15Peacock-Farrell
- 23Pieters
- 27Vydra
- 28Long
- 34Dunne
- 41Benson
- Referee:
- Graham Scott
Match Stats
Live Text
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Match ends, Arsenal 0, Burnley 1.
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Second Half ends, Arsenal 0, Burnley 1.
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Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Ben Mee.
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Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Dwight McNeil (Burnley).
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Attempt saved. Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Kieran Tierney with a cross.
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Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Josh Brownhill (Burnley).
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Attempt missed. Rob Holding (Arsenal) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
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Attempt saved. Matej Vydra (Burnley) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Ashley Barnes.
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Attempt missed. Rob Holding (Arsenal) with an attempt from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Dani Ceballos with a cross following a corner.
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Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by James Tarkowski.
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Attempt blocked. Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Ainsley Maitland-Niles.
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Mohamed Elneny (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Ashley Barnes (Burnley).
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Substitution, Arsenal. Eddie Nketiah replaces Willian.
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Attempt missed. Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Willian.
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Corner, Burnley. Conceded by Rob Holding.
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Attempt missed. James Tarkowski (Burnley) header from very close range is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Dwight McNeil with a cross following a corner.
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Corner, Burnley. Conceded by Mohamed Elneny.