Arsenal vs Burnley, Premier League live score and latest updates
Full-time! Arsenal 3 Burnley 1
It was pretty nervy for a while there, but Arsenal do get the three points. The returning Ozil's role in two of the goals will be the biggest talking point, though Burnley will point to the debatable third as the key moment.
Dyche and Emery share a pretty animated discussion at the final whistle.
90+4 min - Arsenal 3 Burnley 1
Westwood booked for complaining about Iwobi not being flagged offside. Arsenal just running down the clock now.
GOAL! Arsenal 3 Burnley 1 (Iwobi 90+1')
GOAAAAAALLLL! Game, set and match Arsenal. Ozil embarks on an excellent jinking run, and when his shot from 12 yards out is blocked, there is Iwobi to sweep home from close range. A touch of offside perhaps, but the flag stays down.
90 min - Arsenal 2 Burnley 1
Five minutes of time to be added on.
88 min - Arsenal 2 Burnley 1
Arsenal very nearly seal things, but Kolasanic's low cross fizzes past everyone and away to safety.
86 min - Arsenal 2 Burnley 1
Arsenal break well down the left, but Ozil's cross is headed clear.
84 min - Arsenal 2 Burnley 1
Arsenal have really lost control here. They're hoofing long balls forward, which is an absolute dream for Burnley's giant trio of centre-backs.
83 min - Arsenal 2 Burnley 1
Burnley with their third and final change, and it's like for like again: Lowton on for Bardsley. I think Maitland-Niles will be ok to carry on.
82 min - Arsenal 2 Burnley 1
Mee has half a chance with a volley from a Burnley free-kick, but he stabs it wide from just inside the box. It wasn't an easy opportunity. Maitland-Niles then recieves treatment from a head injury - if he can't go on, Arsenal will be down to 10.
I wonder incidentally if Lacazette thought it should have been Ozil who was taken off. In any case he's still looking on from the bench ruefully.
79 min - Arsenal 2 Burnley 1
Burnley launch one in the direction of Vokes straight away. Arsenal can expect a lot of that in the closing stages.
Lacazette meanwhile really vented as he went off, not a happy bunny at all.
78 min - Arsenal 2 Burnley 1
Burnley change both their strikers - Vokes and Vydra on for Wood and Barnes. Both Vs will fancy their chances against this patched-up Arsenal defence. Arsenal respond with their final change - Iwobi on for Lacazette, who doesn't look too happy.
75 min - Arsenal 2 Burnley 1
The Arsenal fans want a second booking for Wood after he leaves one in on Guendouzi. Could easily have been a yellow to be fair.
72 min - Arsenal 2 Burnley 1
Westwood escapes a booking after barrelling into Xhaka. Burnley have successfully turned this into a scrap since Arsenal's second goal. Emery and Dyche chirping away at each other on the sidelines.
71 min - Arsenal 2 Burnley 1
Arsenal all over the place, and Cork has the freedom of the penalty area to equalise. He miscues his shot badly wide though and the home side breathes again. Big opportunity here for Burnley to get something from the game.
70 min - Arsenal 2 Burnley 1
Barnes thinks he's in for a second goal, but the whistle goes for a foul on Lichtsteiner. Not sure how much was in that.
69 min - Arsenal 2 Burnley 1
Arsenal decide against putting a corner into the box, and instead work all the way back to Leno. Cue groans from the majority of the Emirates.
66 min - Arsenal 2 Burnley 1
Arsenal nearly restore their two-goal cushion but Lacazette can't quite gather Kolasinac's low centre.
GOAL! Arsenal 2 Burnley 1 (Barnes 63')
GOOOOOAAAAAAAAAL! Burnley back in it! Arsenal have so many chances to clear but after a couple of ricochets the ball falls to Barnes to smash home from about six yards.
63 min - Arsenal 2 Burnley 0
Arsenal should do more with a counter started by Kolasinac, but Ozil seems to give up on Lacazette's pass. HE DOESN'T WANT IT ENOUGH, someone presumably shouted somewhere.
61 min - Arsenal 2 Burnley 0
Tackles flying in, as Guendouzi is flattened by Cork before Mee takes out Aubameyang. Both men receive bookings.
59 min - Arsenal 2 Burnley 0
Guendouzi is booked for a mistimed tackle on Hendrick. Moments later Elneny is taken off for Torreira.
58 min - Arsenal 2 Burnley 0
It's all happening here. Burnley want a penalty when Kolasinac gives Long a nudge in the box, before Barnes - on a booking - is very lucky to get away with what looked like a stamp on Guendouzi. Both incidents go unpunished, but tempers are fraying.
55 min - Arsenal 2 Burnley 0
Lacazette is penalised for fouling Tarkowski right on the edge of Burnley area. That would have been a glorious chance for Arsenal if play had continued but it probably was just about a foul.
52 min - Arsenal 2 Burnley 0
Guendouzi receives treatment after a painful clash with Barnes. Guendouzi happily looks fine to continue.
GOAL! Arsenal 2 Burnley 0 (Aubameyang 48')
GOAAAAAAAAAAL! Arsenal double their lead, and it's Aubameyang again. Burnley had started the half well, but they're sprung by a devastating counter. Guendouzi clips a ball forward for the advancing Kolasinac, who plays the ball inside for Lacazette. Spotting his strike partner's run outside him, Lacazette flicks a pass out to Aubameyang, who works a yard and lashes a shot beyond Hart from about 12 yards via the aid of a deflection. Clinical from Aubameyang again, who moves clear at the top of the Premier League goalscoring charts.
47 min - Arsenal 1 Burnley 0
Leno is cleaned out by Wood as he comes out to head clear. Both men down getting treatment but they look fine to carry on. Wood is booked for his troubles.
46 min - Arsenal 1 Burnley 0
We're back under way.
No changes for either side at half-time - quite rare that for Arsenal. As for Burnley, wonder how long it is before Dyche goes for it and sends Vokes on to sit on Lichtsteiner.
Nicely poised
Burnley will definitely get chances in the second half against Arsenal's decimated back line. Can they take them? And can they keep Arsenal out at the other end?
Half-time - Arsenal 1 Burnley 0
At long, long last Arsenal lead a Premier League game at half-time.
45 min - Arsenal 1 Burnley 0
Mee gives the ball away and Arsenal stream down the right through Maitland-Niles and Guendouzi. Eventually Lacazette works a shooting position about 12 yards out but he tries to beat Long and is dispossessed. Two minutes of time to be added on.
44 min - Arsenal 1 Burnley 0
Nearly an own goal for Xhaka but Leno holds on to his header that was dangerously close to the top corner.
43 min - Arsenal 1 Burnley 0
Arsenal are a few minutes away from leading a Premier League game at half time for the first time this season.
42 min - Arsenal 1 Burnley 0
Sokratis and Barnes clash again, as the former hauls the latter to the ground close to the half-way line. Sokratis is booked for the challenge, as Barnes is millimetres from lashing out but relaises he's on a yellow and thinks better of it.
40 min - Arsenal 1 Burnley 0
Arsenal lose so much of their rhythm when Xhaka isn't in their midfield. My colleague Dan Zeqiri wrote a very insightful piece on it here.
39 min - Arsenal 1 Burnley 0
Since Monreal's gone off, Xhaka has dropped back to make it a defensive three for Arsenal. Xhaka was saying pre-game how pleased he was to be returning to midfield.
37 min - Arsenal 1 Burnley 0
Barnes is booked for holding onto Sokratis, who only gets a talking to. Meanwhile more bad injury news for Arsenal as Monreal limps off to be replaced by Lichtsteiner. Monreal walks straight down the tunnel.
35 min - Arsenal 1 Burnley 0
Big flashpoint here, as Barnes and Sokratis clash close to the touchline. Barnes claims he was elbowed by Sokratis. What will referee Kevin Friend decide?
32 min - Arsenal 1 Burnley 0
Great shot here of that Ozil pass in the lead up to the Arsenal goal:
That pass from Ozil was so good that Kolasinac wasn't even in shot. Took out six Burnley players with one ball #AFCpic.twitter.com/mfU67WBRd8
— Sam Dean (@SamJDean) December 22, 2018
30 min - Arsenal 1 Burnley 0
Maitland-Niles does brilliantly to skin Mee down the right, but the Arsenal youngster's cross is then blocked. Maitland-Niles has been great going forward, less so defensively.
27 min - Arsenal 1 Burnley 0
Burnley have responded well to falling behind, and force a corner that Arsenal eventually deal with.
24 min - Arsenal 1 Burnley 0
Burnley hoik a free-kick towards the Arsenal area that Sokraris eventually volleys clear. Taylor then gets past Maitland-Niles - as he has done a few times - and whips in a cross that Monreal heads away.
21 min - Arsenal 1 Burnley 0
More good work from Kolasinac down the Arsenal left. The Bosnian barrels forward and picks a pull-back out that eventually ends up at Maitland-Niles's feet. Maitland-Niles does well to dig out a shot from near the penalty spot that Hart holds onto.
19 min - Arsenal 1 Burnley 0
Burnley, who have a definite goal threat today, get forward in numbers again until Barnes is flagged offside.
18 min - Arsenal 1 Burnley 0
Arsenal have a free-kick in a dangerous area, but Ozil plays it short to Kolasinac and the ball rolls harmlessly away for a goal-kick.
16 min - Arsenal 1 Burnley 0
That Aubameyang goal takes him back to the top of the Premier League scoring charts, joint on 11 with Salah.
GOAL! Arsenal 1 Burnley 0 (Aubameyang 14')
GOAAAAAAAAAAL! Arsenal in front! Ozil is the architect, playing a beautifully disguised pass that Kolasinac does very well to pull back for Aubameyang to volley home from about 12 yards. That's why Ozil's in the team.
13 min - Arsenal 0 Burnley 0
Hart enraged the Spurs ans last week by taking his time at goal kicks. He's at it already this afternoon.
12 min - Arsenal 0 Burnley 0
Not much involvement for Ozil so far, as he claps Aubameyang's attempted volleyed pass that runs through to Hart.
10 min - Arsenal 0 Burnley 0
Arsenal so nearly in front! Lacazette does brilliantly to work a yard down the left and stand up a cross that Elneny meets with a header, but it's blocked as it heads for the back of the net. Effective last-ditch defending from Burnley again.
8 min - Arsenal 0 Burnley 0
Lacazette does well to stay onside and lay the ball back for Guendouzi. The ball is deflected to Xhaka who whips a low shot from about 25 yards that Hart holds onto.
7 min - Arsenal 0 Burnley 0
Burnley get forward well again, only for Taylor to underhit his cross to allow Sokratis to clear. Encouraging opening this for Burnley.
6 min - Arsenal 0 Burnley 0
Burnley look long for Wood when they finally get the ball back, but Monreal nips across to snuff out the danger.
3 min - Arsenal 0 Burnley 0
Big chances early on for both sides!
First Maitland-Niles low cross is beaten away by Hart, and Aubameyang is then denied by Tarkowski on the rebound. Burnely break and Westwood is denied by Leno when through on goal.
Breathless start.
Kick-off
We're under way at the Emirates.
A reminder of the teams for this one.
Arsenal (4-3-3): Leno; Maitland-Niles, Sokratis, Monreal, Kolasinac; Elneny, Guendouzi, Xhaka; Ozil, Aubameyang, Lacazette
Subs: Cech, Lichtsteiner, Torreira, Ramsey, Iwobi, Saka, Nketiah
Burnley (5-3-2): Hart; Bardsley, Long, Tarkowski, Mee, Taylor; Hendrick, Westwood, Cork; Wood, Barnes
Subs: Heaton, Lowton, Vokes, Gibson, Vydra, McNeil, Koiki
Players are out
It's a beautiful winter's afternoon and kick-off is a few minutes away.
Emery evades answering a question about Ozil
He says instead that he is expecting a good performance from Ozil and "from all the players. It’s important to get the three points today. Burnley also have attacking players and we need to respond to those situations. We have to show quality and positivity. It will be a difficult match."
Think this will be tough for Arsenal
I was at Wembley last week to see Burnley very impressively keep out Tottenham out for 90 minutes. Expect they'll be similarly obdurate this afternoon against an Arsenal side who have looked off colour since the north-London derby win at the start of the month.
Against Burnley's massed ranks, Arsenal will need all of Ozil's guile and creativity.
Dyche speaks pre-game
"It’s tough coming to these places, but you look to build a chance by giving a good performance. It’s difficult. We’re looking at the bodies we have, and had to change our shape.
"We’ve got to find our balance, we’ve got to defend well, we were very solid at Tottenham. But we’ve got to find more attacking threat, and historically I’ve liked starting with two forwards. It’s not easy. We didn’t look at how Southampton troubled Arsenal, we look at ourselves.
"We’re aware of how these teams operate and do our analysis, but it’s not always about the tactics, it’s about the delivery of the tactics."
History against them
The last time Burnley won a top-flight game away in December was 1969. They have failed in 23 attempts since. Burnley have also failed to beat Arsenal away for 42 years.
Though in the more recent past, Arsenal have not led a Premier League match at half-time this season. I still find that absolutely mind-blowing. It's nearly January!
What it all means
Arsenal are once again forced to play a makeshift centre-back as Koscielny fails to even make the squad. Ozil gets the nod and skippers the side, while Mkhitaryan misses out. Torreira has a cold and is only on the bench so Elneny makes his first league start of the season.
Defour and Brady are absent for Burnley, as Dyche looks to exploit Monreal's weakness in the air by starting Wood up front with Barnes. Hendrick also comes into the side after being named as a sub against Spurs last week.
Teams in text form
For the resolutely analogue amongst you:
Arsenal (4-3-3): Leno; Maitland-Niles, Sokratis, Monreal, Kolasinac; Elneny, Guendouzi, Xhaka; Ozil, Aubameyang, Lacazette
Subs: Cech, Lichtsteiner, Torreira, Ramsey, Iwobi, Saka, Nketiah
Burnley (5-3-2): Hart; Bardsley, Long, Tarkowski, Mee, Taylor; Hendrick, Westwood, Cork; Wood, Barnes
Subs: Heaton, Lowton, Vokes, Gibson, Vydra, McNeil, Koiki
Team news - Ozil starts
TEAM NEWS ��
▪️ @MesutOzil1088, @seadk6 return
▪️ @ElNennY starts
Here's how we line up for #ARSBURpic.twitter.com/C5RPt2ssAX— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) December 22, 2018
TEAM NEWS: Here's your Clarets team to face @Arsenal today. pic.twitter.com/XBnirDIxuw
— Burnley FC (@BurnleyOfficial) December 22, 2018
Back on track?
Morning all,
Will he or won't he? That's the big question going into this match, as Arsenal head coach Unai Emery weighs up whether to select north London's answer to a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma Mesut Ozil.
Against Tottenham in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday, the mercurial Ozil didn't even make the squad - and you have to go back to November 10 for his last Premier League start.
Emery said yesterday that Ozil remains part of his plans if he shows the right attitude, but he added that the midfielder's £350,000-a-week wages will make no difference to his chances of starting.
Our correspondent Sam Dean breaks down the situation very neatly in this piece here.
Anyway, in spite of me using up my first 100 words talking about him, we MUST not let Ozil overshadow this afternoon's match, which could have HUGE implications at both ends of the table.
Arsenal need a win to keep the pressure on top-four rivals Tottenham and Chelsea (they are currently five points behind the former and three behind the latter), while Burnley dropped into the relegation zone last weekend following their unlucky defeat at Spurs.
Burnley will though have taken heart from that loss where for 90 minutes they did a very successful job of containing Tottenham - certainly far better than Arsenal managed in the north London derby a few days later.
Sean Dyche should also be encouraged by Arsenal's ongoing defensive woes that sees them missing Hector Bellerin, Shkodran Mustafi, Konstantinos Mavropanos and long-term absentee Rob Holding. Southampton brutally exposed Arsenal's soft centre last week with three headed goals, and Dyche must be tempted to start at least one of Sam Vokes and Chris Wood to try and pull off something similar.
After two consecutive defeats, Arsenal are also in their stickiest spot since Emery took over, and it won't take much for the natives to quickly get restless this afternoon.
Of more encouragement for Arsenal is their unbeaten home record against Burnley since 1974 - including a 5-0 thrashing in Arsene Wenger's final home match last season.
Kick-off is at 12.30, and we'll have team news with you about an hour before that.
