Arsenal Premier League woes continued on Sunday as the Gunners were dealt a home defeat by struggling Burnley after out-of-form striker Aubameyang scored in his own net.
Mikel Arteta’s men who ended a memorable week in Europe, qualifying for the knock-out rounds as the only side with a 100% record in the Europa League suffered their seventh defeat in the league this season to leave them closer to the relegation zone than to top four.
The home team enjoyed more possession at the start of the game, but couldn’t convert their dominance on the ball to any clear scoring chances. Rather it was the visitors who carved out the first genuine attempt at goal in the 14th minute when Rodriguez swung in a cross that Chris Wood couldn’t properly connect with.
The hosts were next to go for goal through Rob Holding, who headed just over the bar from a Saka corner. But it wasn’t until the 28th minute that Arsenal really tested the visiting keeper—this time it was Lacazette’s first-time shot that was blocked at full stretch by Pope to keep the score level heading into the break.
The Gunners emerged from the break with greater intensity and could have gone five minutes after the restart. However, Pope was on-hand to deny Aubameyang and Saka in the space of two minutes. But the Gunners who had been in the ascendancy in the opening period of
the second half were reduced to ten men in the 58th minute after Granit Xhaka was sent off for grabbing McNeil’s neck.
With the hosts reduced to ten men, Arteta brought on Dani Ceballos in place of Alexandre Lacazette to offer more protection for the defence.
However, the visitors were able to nick a winner in the 73rd minute with Arsenal striker Aubameyang putting the ball into his own net following a Burnley free-kick.
Although the host rallied in the dying minutes, the goal was enough to hand Burnley just their second win of the season and condemn Arsenal to their third loss in a row.
The Gunners are back in action on Wednesday as they host high-flying Southampton, while Burnley travel to Villa Park to take on Aston Villa on Thursday.
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