Arsenal came out on top 2-1 against Burnley in a lively Premier League clash that saw two late penalties and a red card awarded by referee Jonathan Moss.
Shkodran Mustafi headed home his first goal for the Gunners just short of the hour mark, before Granit Xhaka was dismissed to make life tough for the home side.
The pressure told when Andre Gray stabbed home from the spot, but Arsenal were not finished there and themselves won a spot-kick that Alexis Sanchez dinked down the middle in the seventh minute of extra time.
Relive how the 90 minutes of action unfolded with Sports Mole's live text coverage below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Premier League meeting between Arsenal and Burnley at the Emirates Stadium. The Gunners have managed to get back to winning ways of late after a stuttering spell this time last month, knowing that three more points this afternoon will be enough to lift them back into second place and five adrift of leaders Chelsea.
It has been an impressive return to this level for the visitors, meanwhile, who head to North London aiming to pull off a shock victory - their first away from home all term - to move into the top half of the table. Fair to say that the Clarets have little pressure on them today, which is always nice when taking on one of the division's big boys. Plenty to get through between now and kickoff in an hour's time, so let us start by checking out some confirmed team news.
TEAM NEWS!
ARSENAL XI: Cech, Gabriel, Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal, Ramsey, Xhaka, Alexis, Ozil, Iwobi, Giroud
BURNLEY XI: Heaton, Ward, Mee, Keane, Lowton, Defour, Hendrick, Marney, Boyd, Gray, Barnes
Starting with a look at the home team, manager Arsene Wenger has decided to name an unchanged starting lineup from the 4-0 win over Swansea City eight days ago. That means a place up top for an in-form Olivier Giroud, who as scored in each of his last five outings and in each of his last nine starts - quite some run, with his tally at 11 overall for the season. As a result, Alexis Sanchez drops into a wide attacking berth in what is a familiar 4-3-2-1 system.
Sanchez has scored or assisted 21 goals so far this season in the Premier League - more than any other player in the division. The Chilean has been visibly upset on a couple of occasions over the past month, however, having thrown his gloves in anger against Bournemouth and done likewise when replaced late on against Swansea a week ago. All eyes on him today, then, as questions continue to be asked about his long-term future at the club.
Alongside Sanchez is another supposed contract rebel in Mesut Ozil, while Alex Iwobi keeps his place in attack out on the left-hand side. Aaron Ramsey and Granit Xhaka impressed at the Liberty Stadium last time out, so it is not all that surprising to see them remain in the side for the visit of Burnley this afternoon. Elsewhere, Francis Coquelin, Kieran Gibbs and Hector Bellerin each return from injury to take up places on the bench.
Switching attention to the visitors now, boss Sean Dyche has also opted to go with an unchanged XI from his side's last league outing - a 1-0 win over Southampton at Turf Moor. Dean Marney, Ashley Barnes and Johann Berg Gudmundsson have each struggled with injury problems this week, keeping them out of the cup replay with Sunderland on Tuesday, but the Icelandic international is the only one to miss out on inclusion today.
Scott Arfield misses his third-game in a row due to a hamstring injury, while elsewhere Sam Vokes also misses out once again as Ashley Barnes and Andre Gray are preferred in that forward line after linking up well of late. Burnley will essentially set out in a classic 4-4-2 formation, but expect those forward players to drop deep into midfield for large parts in a game that the hosts are expected to dominate possession wise.
There was a match-winning goal from the bench for Joey Barton against Southampton last weekend, earning him the praise from his delighted manager, but he is still not quite at peak fitness levels and is therefore only named among the subs today. This is a hard-working Burnley side, to say the least, but they have a hugely disappointing record on the road this term - among the worst in Europe's top-five leagues, in fact - so it is hard to see them taking anything from this tough test in the capital.
BENCH WATCH!
ARSENAL SUBS: Ospina, Gibbs, Bellerin, Coquelin, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Welbeck, Perez
BURNLEY SUBS: Flanagan, Kightly, Barton, Vokes, Robinson, Tarkowski, Darikwa
Added depth to the Arsenal bench this weekend, as the aforementioned trio of Coquelin, Gibbs and Bellerin return to the matchday squad. Bellerin clearly not yet at peak fitness, though, because Gabriel Paulista instead fills in at right-back while Nacho Monreal continues on the opposite flank. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Danny Welbeck and Lucas Perez provide attacking support, while Burnley have Vokes and Barton among their back-up options.
Both teams remain unchanged from their last league outings - a 4-0 win over Swansea City for Arsenal and a narrow 1-0 triumph at home to Southampton for Burnley. That means Olivier Giroud has successfully shaken off the ankle injury sustained at the Liberty Stadium eight days ago, as he attempts to prolong his scoring streak to six games in a row, and also make it 10 goals from his last 10 starts.
A huge opportunity for Arsenal to regain the tag of 'Best of the Rest' at the top end of the Premier League table this afternoon, then, following what can only be described as a successful day of top-flight action for them on Saturday. Liverpool suffered a shock home defeat to Swansea City in the early kickoff, while Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City also dropped two points apiece. It remain incredibly tight at the top, with five points separating second and sixth.
At the top of the pile is Chelsea, who proved that the 2-0 loss to Tottenham recently was nothing more than a blip by returning to winning ways last weekend. The Blues are the last side in action this weekend, which is often something you would prefer to avoid but on this occasion they have the incentive to open up their advantage even further. Victory for Arsenal today will temporarily close the gap to five points, but expect that to become eight come half six this evening.
Arsenal head into this match unbeaten in five games in all competition, with four of those ending in victory - the other being that crazy 3-3 draw at Bournemouth which felt like a win in its own right after recovering from three down. The Gunners' frailties were there to see pre-Christmas when losing back-to-back games against Everton and Manchester City, twice throwing away one-goals leads to fall well off the pace in the title race.
Ten points from the last 12 on offer is a decent outcome for the Gunners, though, albeit not enough to close the gap on Chelsea who have been turned into a winning machine by Antonio Conte. It is worth nothing that those two sides face off at Stamford Bridge on February 4, in what has the potential to be a potential title decider in many ways - more to do with the fact that the Blues will surely be uncatchable should they see off their London rivals.
Before that comes a trip to Southampton in the FA Cup fourth round next weekend, and they also have that huge double-header against Bayern Munich to prepare for this time next month - a big task for the Gunners to overcome, but it does not appear to be quite as daunting as in recent years. Arsenal are looking for their fifth-successive home win this afternoon, though they are only actually fifth in the home form table - a couple of places behind Burnley!
It is worth pointing out that Arsenal have played two home games fewer than today's opponents, however, so expect that to even out over the next few weeks. That is still quite some record as far as the Clarets are concerned, though, having turned Turf Moor into a real fortress since an opening-game defeat to Swansea City. It has been a completely different story on their travels, mind, as they have just the one points all campaign; that coming in a goalless draw with Manchester United.
Arsenal have also scored in their last 12 league outings, which is the best current run in the Premier League. They also have one point more at this stage of the season compared to 12 months ago, though unlike back then when they topped the table the Gunners currently find themselves three places worse off and well adrift of the pacesetters. A cause for concern for the Londoners, though - all three of their league losses this term have come after taking the lead in a game.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS! Arsenal are unbeaten against Burnley in the Premier League, winning four and drawing one of their past encounters. The Gunners are today seeking a fifth win in a row this afternoon after their dramatic 1-0 triumph in Lancashire at the start of October; Laurent Koscielny scoring the only goal in that one with the use of his hand extremely late on. The Clarets have also failed to find the net in the last three league fixtures, though they did score here in the FA Cup 12 months ago.
Turf Moor has become a real fortress in the Premier League this season, with only three other sides boasting better home records than Burnley. It has been a different story on their travels for the Clarets, though, having picked up just one point all term - among the worse in European football. They did hold Manchester United to a stalemate earlier in the campaign, mind, so they should not be completely written off just yet.
Burnley themselves head into this Sunday afternoon clash sitting 13th in the table, courtesy of Southampton's straightforward win over Leicester City a little earlier. The Clarets could climb as high as ninth with victory today, which really would be quite some doing. Relegation has never truly been a worry for them this season, with the gap on the bottom three currently 10 points - surely enough to keep them in the division.
The Clarets' home form alone will keep them in the top flight for a second year running, which is testament to manager Dyche and his backroom staff. One defeat in six games overall has them in good stead, and they can now perhaps prioritise a run in the FA Cup as they play host to Bristol City next weekend - a winnable fixture, to say the least, against one of the country's worst sides at the moment on current form.
In terms of their Premier League form, Burnley have won three of their last four to climb further up the table and are now well on course to achieve a top-half finish. Dyche will be hoping to rectify his side's away woes between now and May, though, because as well as picking up just the one point, the Lancashire outfit have also scored just three times - the outright worst record in Europe's top-five leagues, and more than half the Premier League's next-worst side.
DID YOU KNOW? Burnley have still yet to win a Premier League game in London, drawing two and losing 12 overall across their previous stint at this level. The Clarets' last top-flight win of any sort in the capital came in January 1975 when beating Queens Park Rangers 3-0 at Loftus Road, with defeats already suffered at the hands of Chelsea, West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur so far this term. After today, they then face Watford and Crystal Palace in the remaining few months.
With kickoff at the Emirates Stadium now exactly 10 minutes away, let us turn attention to some pre-match thoughts from both camps.
Arsene Wenger: "With the number of games we have it's important that we have all our experienced players back and that everybody is focused to do well. We're going through a moment of truth now - January until May is five months to go. You want ideally all your players with big experience back in your squad."
Sean Dyche: "I think some of the principles we look at as a whole club are similar [to Arsenal's]. Arsene has tried to run it as a business and a football team on both levels, and the business model he has achieved is absolutely incredible."
Wenger calling on his big-name players to show up in these closing four months of the season, then, as Arsenal continue to challenge on three fronts - the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup. The title looks almost out of reach at this point, even if they can climb second with victory today, while progression in Europe will also be a massive ask as they face off against the behemoth that is Bayern Munich. Still, until it is over the Gunners will continue to give their own to ease the pressure on the Frenchman's shoulders.
Dyche used his pre-match press conference to hail the work of Wenger in North London, meanwhile, claiming that the model adopted by the Frenchman is similar to his own. Burnley have certainly more than held their own in the Premier League this term and will surely not be dragged into any sort of relegation battle now, but looking ahead to the future a big summer is just around the corner as they look to strengthen once again.
PREDICTION! As managers so often tell you these days, there is no such thing as an easy fixture in the Premier League... unless Burnley are your visitors, that is! The Clarets' record away from home really has been abysmal since their return to this level, collecting the one point and scoring a paltry three times. It is hard to see that changing today, even if they have won three of their last four in the league, so I am going to back Arsenal to claim a straightforward 3-0 triumph.
Both sets of players have now made their way down the tunnel area, with kickoff at the Emirates Stadium now just a couple of minutes away. A huge chance for Arsenal to capitalise on the slip-up from fellow title challengers Spurs, Man City, Man United and Liverpool yesterday, while also putting a little pressure on Chelsea ahead of their meeting against Hull City this evening. Burnley, meanwhile, are aiming to pick up their first ever Premier League win in the English capital.
KICKOFF! We are up and running in North London, where Arsenal will likely have to remain patient for large parts against a Burnley side looking to keep as many bodies behind the ball as possible. A point is the target for them.
Positive start to the match from the visitors, who get a couple of balls into the box but fail to test Cech. Jeff Hendrick looked to hook the ball towards goal from the edge of the box but it drifted wide of the target in the end.
A rather subdued atmosphere around this wonderful ground so far, which does tend to be the case with these Sunday afternoon matches in the Premier League. Arsenal have seen plenty of the ball but been unable to really get into the final third.
Still the Gunners knock the ball around in their own half, attempting to find that passing angle to get the ball into the attacking third. A cross did finally arrive into the box but Giroud's header was blocked in front of goal by Ward.
Sanchez, who assisted that half-chance for Giroud, takes matters into his own hands by blasting high over the bar from range. The Gunners stepping things up now following a tentative start to the contest in North London.
Sanchez attempts the outrageous with his diving header, which ends wide of the target in the end. A couple of minor chances for Arsenal and a wayward shot - a decent enough start from them all-in-all at the Emirates Stadium.
Good play from Arsenal, as Sanchez clips the ball towards Giroud. The Frenchman nodded down into the path of Monreal, who could not quite get on the end of it in front of goal. Inventive from the Gunners - exactly what is required this afternoon.
SAVE! Good stop from Heaton to push aside Ozil's effort from 20 yards out. Giroud was right in his line of vision so the Englishman did well to follow the flight of the ball. Iwobi then sent a deflected shot wide of target.
SAVES! Arsenal work the corner short and eventually swing it in towards Koscielny, who directs his header down the middle for Heaton to easily keep out. Up the other end, Barnes hit the ball sweetly and forces Cech into his first stop.
An entertaining start to the match overall, then, as Arsenal have already racked up seven attempts - two of them on target - while Burnley came close through their only attempt just a couple of minutes ago; Boyd testing Cech from inside the box.
Giroud sweeps a shot wide of target as Arsenal continue their onslaught towards the Burnley goal. Heaton has had a couple of saves to make so far but nothing required from the top drawer so far, yet there is still plenty of time for that to change.
SHOT! One of Arsenal's better openings, as Ozil is well positioned to take on Boyd's poor headed clearance. The German failed to hit the target in the end, sending his shot wide of the post from 18 yards out.
Ten shots from Arsenal in the opening quarter of the game, though still no breakthrough. Burnley have their moments, too - namely a strike from Boyd that required a sprawling stop from Petr Cech in the Gunners' goal.
SAVE! Burnley hold their line well to catch Ozil offside. The German was in behind and took on the shot regardless, which Heaton did well to remain big and keep out with his chest. Up the other end, Gray controls Boyd's cross and drills into Cech's midriff.
Fans urging their players on now following what has been a frustrating opening half-hour. Arsenal have done well at times to create some half-chances, but it is inevitably proving a tough task in breaking their opponents down.
SAVE! Clever play by the Gunners once more, but Ozil is quickly crowded out in the box and sees his shot deflected behind for a corner. Ramsey's rabona cross is nearly met by Giroud, and from the next attack Mustafi's shot-cross is held by Heaton.
Hard to be too critical of Arsenal in the opening third of this contest, because they have put together some nice moves and do look like scoring in the remaining hour. Dyche, on the other hand, will also be happy enough with what he has seen.
Koscielny appeared to get his head to the ball first when a cross came in, but replays show it skimmed the head of Mee to help it on to the roof of the net - another corner. Ten minutes of the first half left to play.
A nice ball over the top from Mustafi is latched on to by Ozil, but he could not quite bring it fully under control and Heaton was quickly on the loose ball. All Arsenal now, as they attempt to pull their opponents around the pitch.
Burnley win themselves a corner from a rare foray forward, which Mee does really well to get to first and glance on. No visiting player to capitalise, though, and Arsenal survived the minor scare by clearing their lines.
SAVE! Another Arsenal attempt; another Heaton save. It was simple enough for the Englishman once again, though, as he got down to keep hold of Sanchez's rather tame attempt from around 22 yards out.
CLOSE! Sanchez's best attempt yet, as he jinks his way past one player just inside the box and curls an attempt just inches wide of the far post. The Gunners have had their opportunities in this half but will likely go in all square.
Very brave keeping from Cech, who went above and beyond to get to the ball ahead of Gray. The Czech Republic international took a couple of steps and then fell to the ground, having taken a knee to the head, but he appears to be OK to continue.
HALF TIME: ARSENAL 0-0 BURNLEY
The half-time whistle is blown by referee Jonathan Moss, bringing an end to a decent enough half of football as far as Arsenal are concerned but one that they have yet to take the lead in. The Gunners had 14 attempts in all during the opening 45 minutes, just three of which asked any sort of questions of Burnley keeper Tom Heaton.
The match soon settled into its inevitable pattern, as Arsenal took control of proceedings and racked up a number of attempts - 14 in all during the first half - but struggled with that extra bit of quality in front of goal. After a quieter start than expected, Tom Heaton had to make two saves in quick succession 15 minutes in to thwart Mesut Ozil from range and a header from Laurent Koscielny inside the box.
Ozil had a similar chance soon after when finding himself well positioned to latch on to a weak headed clearance from George Boyd, which he could only direct wide of the target. Burnley had a couple of openings of their own in the first half, the best of which saw Andre Gray control a Boyd cross and blast into Petr Cech's midriff, while Ashley Barnes also forced Cech into a sprawling save.
Alexis Sanchez was beginning to see more of the ball in dangerous position as the goalless first half transpired, sending one curled shot agonisingly wide of the far post and being denied by Heaton from 22 yards out with his other attempt. Only once this season have Burnley avoided defeat on their travels in the Premier League, but at the midway stage they are looking good value to double their away points tally.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger may be tempted into making a change at the interval, with Lucas Perez, Danny Welbeck and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain all in contention to come on in attack, while Sean Dyche has Joey Barton available to choose frome if he wants to shore up Burnley's midfield ranks.
ARSENAL SUBS: Ospina, Gibbs, Bellerin, Coquelin, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Welbeck, Perez
BURNLEY SUBS: Flanagan, Kightly, Barton, Vokes, Robinson, Tarkowski, Darikwa
RESTART! We are back up and running at the Emirates Stadium in this match between Arsenal and Burnley. No changes made by either manager at the break, so Wenger clearly waiting until the hour mark before bringing on some fresh legs.
SAVE! Normal service resumed in the opening stages of the second period; a shot from Monreal 18 yards out easily dealt with down low by Heaton. The English keeper actually made more passes than any visiting player in the first half.
Ramsey attempts 'The Giroud' after being picked out by the Frenchman, only for his scorpion kick to end over the bar. A smile from the Arsenal midfielder, who has popped up in some promising positions in the opening 50 minutes of the game.
CLOSE! Sanchez has plenty of space to cut inside on his right boot, but his latest shot is again inches over the bar. The Clarets not as tight as they perhaps should be, although that said they have yet to be punished.
More than a few groans around the ground as Arsenal turn into their old style of being too over-elaborate. We are approaching a stage in the match that Wenger will surely see as a change to bring on a fresh player or two.
Four attempts in this second half from Arsenal, one of which - via the boot of Monreal - has tested Tom Heaton. It is turning into one of those afternoons for the hosts, who now have 35 minutes to find a breakthrough.
Gray gets the better of Koscielny towards the right-hand touchline, spinning in behind but seeing his attempted cross to Barnes easily handled by Cech. That is as good as things have got for the visitors this half.
PENALTY APPEAL! Arsenal truly dominating possession now and they see a small shout for a penalty turned down by Jonathan Moss. Gray sloppily connected with Mustafi inside the box - a penalty from initial viewing, in my opinion.
GOAL! ARSENAL 1-0 BURNLEY (SHKODRAN MUSTAFI)
The most unlikely of scorers for Arsenal, as Shkodran Mustafi glances home a corner for his first goal in English football. That is the 12th headed goal scored by the Gunner in the Premier League this term - more than any other side.
A breakthrough at long last for Arsenal, then, which is certainly deserved on the balance of things. Just the three away goals for Burnley this term, so things are looking bleak for them thanks to that Mustafi header.
RED CARD! Now then! For the second time this season, Moss reaches into his back pocket to show Granit Xhaka a red card. The Swiss, with a habit of strong challenges, goes in on Defour with both feet off the ground and, following some discussions, he is dismissed.
How much does that change the complexion of this match? On the basis of the previous 67 minutes, and even the 10 minutes since they went behind, Burnley will need to change their gameplan. Get the ball forward quicker and make the Gunners' defence work harder.
ARSENAL SUB! Wenger has waited long enough for his first alteration, with his hand forced by that Xhaka red. Iwobi is the man sacrificed for the returning Coquelin, who will sit deep alongside Ramsey in front of the back four.
SAVE! Burnley with their first real attempt in a long, long term, as Defour's free kick is palmed over the bar by Cech. Better from the Clarets, who then win themselves a corner as momentum begins to turn in this match.
BURNLEY SUB! Joey Barton is on in place of Jeff Hendrick for the final 17 minutes or so, earning plenty of jeers from the home side. Barton has more goals against Arsenal than any other Premier League side... I wonder?
YELLOW CARD! Play is stopped for a couple of minutes for Dean Marney to receive some treatment. The midfielder got his boot stuck in the ground when lunging in on his opponent and is in some serious pain. Yellow card for his troubles, too!
BURNLEY SUBS! Marney leaves the pitch on a stretcher, with James Tarkowski on in his place. Vokes is also on for Defour up top in the other change. Expect five or six minutes to now be added on at the end of the match.
It has been a well-balanced match since Xhaka's red card, but I was expecting a little more from Burnley in attack. The Clarets need to get the ball to Gray and Vokes at every possible chance; a point here for the taking if they do so.
The match very much in the balance as we head into the final 10 minutes, with that Xhaka red making life tougher for Arsenal than it perhaps should have been. Wenger holding off from making his final two alterations.
Half a chance for Barnes, as a long punt into the box is flicked on by the head of Vokes. A couple of Arsenal players got in the Burnley man's way and he could only flick a tame attempt towards target for Cech to jump on top of.
Fairly comfortable for Arsenal at the moment - as comfortable as it can be in the closing stages of a game when down to 10 men, at least. Expect plenty of nervous tension in those added minutes of time, with six likely to be shown by the fourth official.
Burnley get numbers in the box and can only half-clear the ball, which falls nicely for substitute Tarkowski to strike into a sea of bodies. Still time for the Clarets to snatch just a second point on their travels all season in the Premier League.
ARSENAL SUB! Ramsey steps things up for Arsenal in midfield and powers towards the opposition box, but his attempted through-ball for Giroud clips the Frenchman's heels and is easily dealt with. One minute of normal time left to play here, as Welbeck comes on for Giroud.
SAVE! Good stop from Heaton to keep out a well struck Coquelin drive from seven yards out. Burnley close to conceding a second, but seven minutes have been added on so it is still all to play for here.
PENALTY TO BURNLEY! OH MY! Coquelin clips his man in the box to concede a penalty in the second minute of added time. Andre Grey is to step up to take the penalty - what a huge moment this is!
GOAL! ARSENAL 1-1 BURNLEY (ANDRE GREY, PEN)
Absolutely incredible. So comfortable for so long, Arsenal now have a minute or two to rescue victory. Wenger has just been sent down the tunnel for dissent, and he even appeared to shove the fourth official in the tunnel area.
PENALTY TO ARSENAL! WOW!! We are seven minutes into added time and Jonathan Moss has pointed to the spot again. Alexis Sanchez will step up to win the game for Arsenal, with what will be the last meaningful kick of the game.
GOAL! ARSENAL 2-1 BURNLEY (ALEXIS SANCHEZ, PEN)
FULL TIME: ARSENAL 2-1 BURNLEY
Jonathan Moss, at the centre of this game for three huge calls - two penalties and a red card - blows his whistle to bring a crazy game of football to a close. Arsenal looked like becoming the latest side to slip-up in the title race, but Alexis Sanchez converted with a dinked penalty from what proved to be the last meaningful kick of the afternoon to lift the Gunners into second. Burnley, for the second time this term, undone in added time by their opponents.
That concludes Sports Mole's live text coverage of events at the Emirates Stadium. An on-the-whistle match report can be found by clicking here, while updates from the evening kickoff between Chelsea and Hull City can be found here. Enjoy!
