Arsenal vs. Burnley: Score, Grades and Reaction from Premier League Game

Arsenal 3-0 Burnley

Alexis Sanchez scored twice as Arsenal eventually claimed a 3-0 victory over Premier League strugglers Burnley at the Emirates Stadium.

The Chile international opened the scoring for the Gunners in the 70th minute as part of a tremendous display before capping his excellent 90 minutes with a further strike in the final minute of the game.

Calum Chambers was also on the scoresheet when he converted two minutes after Sanchez's opener, but the win was not as straightforward as the result suggested.

Burnley had proved to be resilient opposition for the north London club, with goalkeeper Tom Heaton proving to be a hero for the Lancashire side.

Arsene Wenger named the same Arsenal XI that defeated Sunderland last weekend.

Burnley manager Sean Dyche made two changes to his team, with Dean Marney and Marvin Sordell replacing Michael Kightly and Lukas Jutkiewicz.

The early indications looked good for the Gunners, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Calum Chambers working well on the right flank.

Arsenal were making the Clarets work hard in the opening stages with their clever passing and movement, as they probed for an opening.

Santi Cazorla forced the first save out of Tom Heaton in the 10th minute after a neat one-two with Danny Welbeck, but the Burnley goalkeeper saved comfortably.

Jamie McDonald/Getty Images

Arsenal were looking for a penalty moments later when Kieran Trippier appeared to block a Welbeck effort with his elbow, but a corner was awarded instead.

Heaton was again called into action in the 17th minute as a dipping Alexis Sanchez free-kick threatened his goal, but the goalkeeper kept his body behind the Chilean's effort.

Burnley were not without a threat, though, and Per Mertesacker was quick to see the danger when Sordell's cross appeared to be heading toward George Boyd in the 23rd minute.

Kieran Gibbs went close moments later when he connected with an Oxlade-Chamberlain cross, but his effort drifted just wide.

Sanchez and Oxlade-Chamberlain then combined well to set up an opportunity for Cazorla, but his volleyed effort failed to trouble Heaton.

Burnley were being penned back in their own half, but they did manage to break out in the 32nd minute through Scott Arfield, but Mathieu Flamini was alert to the danger as Arfield attempted to find Danny Ings inside the area.

However, it was the home side who had dominated the first period, with Oxlade-Chamberlain, Sanchez and Welbeck all causing problems for Dyche's team.

The Turf Moor side enjoyed better possession in the opening stages of the second half, but Mikel Arteta went closest with a drive that flew just over.

But Burnley appeared to be more of a threat after the interval, and Ings was denied by Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny in the 51st minute.

Trippier was the Burnley hero three minutes later when he headed an Oxlade-Chamberlain cross clear under pressure from Gibbs.

The Clarets were right back in the game, though, and confidence was rising the longer the match remained goalless.

Wenger switched Arteta for Aaron Ramsey in the 63rd minute as he sought to find a way past a resilient Burnley side.

Dyche and his team were grateful to Michael Duff in the 67th minute when he produced a tremendous block to deny what appeared to be a certain Cazorla goal.

Gibbs was granted an opportunity from a clipped Sanchez ball, but the defender could not connect with the clever pass on the turn.

Finally, the deadlock was broken in the 70th minute, with Sanchez earning a deserved opener for his performance. Chambers sent the ball over from the right, and the Chilean got between Duff and Jason Shackell to put Arsenal in front.

Seconds later, Burnley's resistance was broken completely as Chambers turned from provider to goalscorer. Welbeck was first to a Cazorla corner, but could not convert. Fortunately, the former Southampton defender was on hand to slot home instead.

Arsenal could have added a third in the 83rd minute, but Heaton blocked Lukas Podolski's shot with a brilliant reflex save.

The loudest cheer of the day had come in the 80th minute when Theo Walcott returned to action from the bench for the first time since January, and the England international stung Heaton's palms soon after.

In the final minute, Gibbs crossed from the left flank and Sanchez poked home his second goal of the afternoon under Heaton.

Selected Player Ratings

Alexis Sanchez: A+

Excellent display from the Chile international, who was a constant menace to the Burnley defence throughout the game. Thoroughly deserved his two goals in the game.

Santi Cazorla: A-

The midfielder was involved in everything for the Gunners, with some clever probing and defensive cover when required.

Tom Heaton: A

Burnley goalkeeper dealt with everything thrown at him in the first period, including a tremendous block to deny Sanchez. It seemed inevitable his clean sheet would be broken, and so it proved, but the Burnley No. 1 deserves plaudits for his performance.

What's Ahead

Arsenal will now focus on their Champions League match against Anderlecht when the Belgian club arrive at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday.

Burnley, meanwhile, will continue their fight for Premier League survival when they play host to Hull City next Saturday.

Post-Match Reaction