Nicklas Bendtner Disappoints as Arsenal Edge Past Burnley

Goal attempts: Arsenal 19-8 Burnley.

Strangely enough, these stats don't even tell half of the story...not even close.

Usually, when a player gets even the slightest and weakest of shots towards the goal, it is considered a goal attempt.

Such was the case with Burnley, who only had one real chance and scored from it.

Such was not the case with Arsenal.

If you have already seen the game, you would know that Arsenal could've won this game with a two digit scoreline.

They were that bad in front of goal.

Well, to be honest, they weren't bad in front of goal, Bendtner was.

Nicklas Bendtner is no stranger to criticism, and today would only open a whole new window of opportunity for the entire footballing world to criticise him.

Arsenal have created and wasted absolute sitters today, and Bendtner was the man under the spotlight.

Bendtner wasted no less than five clear-cut chances in front of goal, goals that were harder to miss than to put in the back of the net.

Arsenal almost paid dearly for them.

Arsenal scored first, through a terrific effort between Nasri and Fabregas. In what some people might consider one of the best goals this season, Nasri saw the run by Fabregas and delivered it with a beautiful lobbed through ball. The Arsenal captain finished it perfectly with a wonderful shot between the legs of Jensen, who saved his side from an embarrassing defeat.

Moments after scoring the goal, Fabregas was substituted after picking up an injury, and concerns remain as to whether he will be able to play against Porto or not.

Later in the second half, Burnley scored through David Nugent, when Arsenal's defence made a terrible error and gave Nugent an easy chance to score, and Nugent accepted.

Later on in the game, Theo Walcott, who was under criticism himself, scored a great goal from a wonderful solo effort. For the first time in the game, he cut inside rather than running down the wings and fired a low shot with his left foot to score a crucial goal for Arsenal—and silence his critics.

Bendtner continued to waste unbelievably easy chances. One of them was from inside the six-yard line with the goal completely empty, and Bendtner shocked all the fans with his miss.

To his credit, he does create many chances, more than the other strikers, but Bendtner is a poor finisher as things stand. Arsenal cannot afford any more slip-ups like that from the Dane—the teams in the Champions League are not as weak and generous as Burnley.

Eduardo then came on to replace the jinxed Dane and wasted another chance, which probably left Wenger worried with his strikers' performance.

Just at the end of the game, Arshavin scored the third Arsenal goal, after spending his entire time in the game as a ghost, then out of nowhere finishing off the opposition. Typical Andrei Arshavin.

Arsenal now have 61 points, two points behind temporary leaders Manchester United. Chelsea still haven't played their 29th game yet and, with nine games remaining, the Gunners will still fancy their chances to win the Premier League this season.