Arsenal 2-1 Burnley: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s superb strike maintains Gunners’ perfect start to the season after Ashley Barnes cancelled out Alexandre Lacazette’s first-half opener
- Arsenal have maintained their perfect start to the season after seeing off Burnley at the Emirates on Saturday
- It was the Gunners who got off to a flying start as Alexandre Lacazette broke the deadlock from a corner
- Sean Dyche’s side capitalised on a quick counter-attack as Ashley Barnes equalised just before half-time
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang superbly restored Arsenal’s lead as he powered his shot in from outside the box
The name of one man dominated the post-match discussions in the pubs of north London on Saturday evening. Dani Ceballos, 23-year-old midfield extraordinaire and Real Madrid loanee.
The usual suspects scored at the Emirates Stadium, and Arsenal opened a season with back-to-back wins for the first time since 2009-10, but Ceballos stole the show.
Several times his pirouettes in the centre of the pitch had grown men swooning. One moment, he might bring to mind Santi Cazorla. The next, he would remind you of Claude Makelele.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang points to the crowd after restoring Arsenal’s lead against Burnley on Saturday lunchtime
The Gabon international fires a low, hard shot from outside the area after Dani Ceballos (centre, back) won the ball for Arsenal
Aubameyang watches along with three Burnley defenders as his shot ripples the back of the net in the second half
Aubameyang pulls off his signature celebration – a forward front-flip – after scoring his side’s second goal in style
Lacazette and Aubameyang bow to one another while shaking hands with both strikers getting their names on the scoreshee
On his full Premier League debut, it was a performance of such class, it made you wonder why in the world Zinedine Zidane let him leave Madrid in the summer.
Unai Emery will be the first to express caution. It is early days for Ceballos, but what a start. Following the loss of Aaron Ramsey to Juventus, he already appears a healthy acquisition.
All in all, this was a good day for Arsenal. They have two wins from two, Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored, and the latter avoided doing himself a mischief when celebrating his winner with an acrobatic flip.
Supporters got to see their new defensive lynchpin David Luiz scrap with the big, brutish strikers of Burnley. They saw £72million Nicolas Pepe come off the substitutes’ bench and attack at will. Academy youngsters Reiss Nelson and Joe Willock, started and held their own.
Sean Dyche’s Burnley came to the Emirates Stadium with a plan. They surrendered possession, lumped long balls towards Ashley Barnes, and asked questions of the Arsenal defence.
Alexandre Lacazette points to the sky after breaking the deadlock in Arsenal’s Premier League clash with Burnley
The Frenchman showed great strength at a corner to muscle off his man before getting a shot away at goal
Lacazette’s shot was squeezed through the legs of Burnley goalkeeper Nick Pope as Arsenal struck first
Lacazette wheels away in celebration after giving the Gunners the lead inside 13 minutes at the Emirates on Saturday
After Lacazette opened the scoring, Barnes levelled it up before the break. It was a fine run and finish from Aubameyang midway through the second half that finally separated the sides.
It was from a Ceballos corner that Arsenal took the lead inside 13 minutes. Lacazette killed the ball dead from the cross but he had his back to the goal and Erik Pieters was all over him like a rash.
The No 9 did not let that stop him. Lacazette shrugged off Pieters as he turned and, while falling to the ground, pummelled a shot through the legs of Nick Pope. Super strength, fine finish, and he had opened his account for the 2019-20 season.
Arsenal came close to doubling their lead before the break. Ceballos led a counter-attack after receiving the ball on the half-turn and he teed up Matteo Guendouzi for the shot. The midfielder drilled it towards the bottom-right corner but Pope produced the save with a trailing leg.
Ashley Barnes celebrates his equaliser for Burnley just minutes before the half-time whistle at the Emirates
The in-form forward, who was found inside the Arsenal penalty area onside, managed to prod the ball past Bernd Leno (left)
David Luiz and Reiss Nelson can only watch from afar as Barnes found space in the box before scoring the equaliser
Barnes’ goal was checked by VAR as the decision to keep the flag down looked close at first-glance but it was eventually given
Burnley’s big lumps were throwing their weight around up front and making life difficult for Luiz. On the stroke of half-time, they got their reward.
Dwight McNeil tried his luck from distance and Sokratis produced the block, but the deflection only carried the ball into the feet of Barnes. The striker, eight yards out and with Guendouzi breathing down his neck, sorted his feet out quickly and beat Bernd Leno.
Barnes ran away celebrating, cupping his ear with his hand. Arsenal’s defenders were crying for offside. Would VAR make a fool of the Burnley striker? Nope. He was onside, and the goal stood.
‘Anti-football,’ sang the visiting supporters, poking fun at their style of play under Dyche.
Arsenal thought they had re-taken the lead moments later. Nacho Monreal, captain for the day, made a run down the left and pulled the ball back for Reiss Nelson, who buried it beyond Pope.
The assistant had already raised his flag for offside. It went to VAR, who concurred. The Burnley fans celebrated ‘no goal’ popping up on the big screen as if they had scored themselves.
Clarets goalkeeper Pope denies Lacazette by making a reaction save minutes after the Frenchman’s opener at the Emirates
Arsenal boss Unai Emery (centre) complains to the fourth official about time wasting as Matt Lowton takes a throw-in
Arsenal went in search of their winner and Ainsley Maitland-Niles, playing at right back, threaded a through-ball into the feet of Aubameyang. The striker, who scored a league-high 22 goals last season, controlled then fired a shot which was saved smartly by Pope.
Ceballos then forced him into a diving save at his bottom corner following a 20-yard effort.
Arsenal were knocking on the door, and they finally took the lead in the 64th minute.
Ceballos lost the ball then made amends by winning it back instantly. Aubameyang charged forward, cut on to his right foot then drilled the ball beyond Pope, who had no chance.
There was no Mesut Ozil in the match-day squad here. The official reason for the 30-year-old German’s absence was illness, though he was watching his team-mates from the stands.
In the end, Ozil was not needed. Their other big names did the trick, and Ceballos introduced himself to his new supporters in style. Another win for Arsenal, and next up is Liverpool away.
source:dailymail.co.uk