- Date:2009-12-16
- Kick-off:19:45
- Venue:Turf Moor
- Attendance:21309
- Referee:Dean, M
Live Commentary
90mins
Full time: BURNLEY 1-1 ARSENAL: Plenty of chances but both goalkeepers make vital saves for a share of the points.
87mins
Eduardo fires a shot on goal but Jensen makes a comfortable save.
85mins
Caldwell is booked for a foul on Ramsey.
82mins
Diaby does well to take the ball off Blake, just as the substitute shaped to shoot.
80mins
A double attacking substitution from Burnley as Blake and Nugent come on for Fletcher and Eagles.
79mins
Eagles hits a dipping shot that just goes over the Arsenal goal.
77mins
Nasri skips clear of his marker but Jensen comes out to smother the ball.
75mins
Carlisle does well to ease Eduardo off the ball from Song's cross.
72mins
Eagles races away from a tired Arsenal defence but the linesman's flag again comes to the Gunners' rescue.
70mins
Gudjonsson comes on for Bikey.
69mins
Fletcher smashes the ball home from McDonald's cross but the linesman flags for offside.
67mins
Burnley counter-attack through Fletcher but his shot just clears the Arsenal goal.
65mins
Walcott makes way for Eduardo.
65mins
Eagles hits the post after a jinking run into the Arsenal box. Almunia was beaten.
64mins
Gallas heads Mears' cross out for a corner.
62mins
Walcott fires high over the bar from a good position.
61mins
Arshavin's deep cross is collected by Jensen.
58mins
Arsenal have been sluggish in the second half and the pace of the game has suffered as a result.
55mins
Walcott's dangerous cross is headed clear by Jordan.
53mins
Bikey seizes on a mistake by Gallas but his shot doesn't trouble Almunia.
51mins
Fletcher's long range shot sails over the Arsenal goal.
49mins
Jordan makes a great tackle on Walcott, just as the Arsenal winger was threatening to race clear of the Burnley defender.
46mins
Arsenal get the second half up and running.
45mins
The teams are back out. No changes at the break.
45mins
Half time: BURNLEY 1-1 ARSENAL: An entertaining first half ends all square. Both goalkeepers have made vital saves and it looks like there could be more goals in this one.
44mins
Vermaelen gets a header on goal that Jensen tips over. Corner to Arsenal.
42mins
Fabregas is injured and is replaced by Ramsey.
41mins
Gallas makes a last-ditch tackle to deny Elliott a certain goal.
39mins
Eagles is booked for taking a free-kick too early.
38mins
Eagles finds space on the edge of the Arsenal box but Sagna gets across to win the ball back.
36mins
Walcott beats Jordan for pace but Jensen is quick off his line to clear the danger.
34mins
Fabregas takes aim from 30 yards out but his shot arrows over the bar.
31mins
Great save by Jensen. Arshavin burst through one-on-one but the keeper spread himself to deny the Russian.
29mins
BURNLEY 1-1 ARSENAL: ALEXANDER sends Almunia the wrong way for his 100th league goal.
28mins
Bikey is brought down in the box by Vermaelen.
28mins
McDonald's cross-shot flies high over the Arsenal goal.
25mins
Bikey heads on for Fletcher but his shot is saved by Almunia.
22mins
Mears finds space but his cross is behind Fletcher and Arsenal clear.
19mins
Arshavin's deep cross misses everyone in the box and Mears brings the ball out of defence.
17mins
Arsenal hit the post! Nasri found Arshavin and the midfielder fired a low shot against the woodwork.
15mins
Fletcher heads over the bar from Eagles' free-kick. Almunia was beaten but the Scotland striker couldn't keep it down.
13mins
Vermaelen strides forward to hit a long range shot wide of the Burnley goal.
11mins
The goal has given Arsenal a lift and they are dominating possession.
9mins
Fabregas almost makes it 2-0 after another mistake by the Burnley defence. It was Carlisle who played in the Arsenal skipper this time.
7mins
BURNLEY 0-1 ARSENAL: A mistake by Bikey lets in FABREGAS for an easy finish.
6mins
Burnley have started brightly and a run by Eagles is only just thwarted by Gallas.
4mins
Burnley almost take the lead. Eagles crossed for Bikey, whose header was palmed onto the bar by Almunia.
2mins
A mistake by Mears plays in Fabregas but his cross is knocked out for a corner to Arsenal.
0mins
Referee Mike Dean gets the game under way.
0mins
The teams are out at Turf Moor. Burnley have won five and only lost once at home. Arsenal are looking to regain third place in the Premier League and beat Liverpool at Anfield last time out.
0mins
Burnley: Jensen, Mears, Caldwell, Carlisle, Jordan, Eagles, Elliott, Alexander, Bikey, McDonald, Steven Fletcher
0mins
Kevin McDonald starts in place of Robbie Blake for Burnley.
0mins
Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna, Vermaelen, Gallas, Silvestre, Walcott, Fabregas, Song Billong, Diaby, Nasri, Arshavin
0mins
Arsene Wenger makes two changes to the Arsenal team that beat Liverpool on Sunday. Diaby and Silvestre come in for Denilson and Traore.
Match Preview
Burnley face the daunting task of tussling with Arsenal at Turf Moor on Wednesday night when their fine home form will be on the line against Arsene Wenger's impressive outfit.
The Clarets grabbed a 1-1 draw with Fulham on Saturday that further prolonged their impressive record in their own backyard.
Wade Elliott's fabulous strike made sure that a loss to Wigan Athletic remains their only reversal on home soil, but Owen Coyle will know what his side are up against when the Gunners roll into Lancashire.
Coyle's men have picked just three points up from a possible 15 and have won just once in their last eight Premier League fixtures.
Burnley sit in 13th place and are four points ahead of West Ham United who currently occupy the final relegation place.
Long-term knee sufferers Martin Paterson and Chris McCann remain sidelined while young local striker Jay Rodriguez is expected to return in the new year after an ankle injury.
Arsenal's form has been patchy in recent weeks but Sunday's fine 2-1 victory against Liverpool at Anfield will have boosted the Gunners' confidence.
Wenger will want to secure three points to further aid their top-four challenge and, with home games against Hull City and Aston Villa fast approaching and then an away trip to Portsmouth before the year is out, there is reason for optimism at the Emirates Stadium.
They occupy third place in the table but remain six points behind leaders Chelsea, although they do have a game in hand.
On the injury front, Kieran Gibbs is likely to be missing for around three months after having surgery on a broken metatarsal while star striker Robin Van Persie also went under the surgeon's knife to cure the ankle injury he picked up on international duty for Netherlands in November.
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Match Report
It was a case of after the Lord Mayor's Show at Turf Moor as Arsenal were unable to build on the tonic of their victory at Anfield last Sunday.
The pattern of the game was illustrated in the opening moments when Gunners 'keeper Manuel Almunia was forced to tip the ball against his own crossbar. However Burnley were unable to build on their early possessional advantage and fell behind when a mistake by Andre Bikey was seized upon by Cesc Fabregas who easily found the corner of Brian Jensen's net.
Indeed the visitors could have increased their lead shortly afterwards but Samir Nasri could only find the side netting with his effort.
The home team had another escape when Nasri found Andrey Arshavin whose shot beat Jensen but cannoned back off the post.
The game changed when Bikey was up-ended by central defender Thomas Vermaelen and Burnley captain Graham Alexander scored from the penalty spot, sending Alminia the wrong way.
Arsene Wenger's side suffered a blow when Fabregas had to leave with an injury to be replaced by Aaron Ramsey.
Whilst Arsenal enjoyed plenty of possession in the second period, Burnley were always dangerous on the counter attack and from such a move Chris Eagles brushed aside two challenges before seeing his shot strike a post.
Burley centre forward Steven Fletcher then shot over the bar and the same player thought he had scored the winner, turning in a cross from Eagles only for the assistant referee to disallow the goal for offside.
The home team's heroics ensured a well deserved point which re-enforces Burnley's home record that shows that Manchester United, Aston Villa, and now Arsenal all having failed to win on this ground.
This will be a frustrating result for Arsene Wenger's side who got themselves back into the Championship race with victory over Liverpool but in truth the Gunners did not deserve the three points as they failed to break down a stubborn Burnley rear guard in which defenders Clarke Carlisle and Stephen Jordan were outstanding.
Prior to the game Clarets boss Owen Coyle promised to go toe to toe with his illustrious opponents and the likeable young boss was true to his word as his side thoroughly deserved their point in their quest to maintain Premier League survival.
Burnley Team
Arsenal Team
Burnley | Arsenal |
Corners
| 3 | 6 |
Fouls
| 11 | 12 |
Goal attempts
| 7 | 16 |
Shots off target
| 5 | 9 |
Offsides
| 8 | 4 |



90mins
Nasri's low drive is blocked by Caldwell.