The Chile international made the breakthrough for Arsene
Wenger's side and Calum Chambers notched his first goal for
the club in a strong second-half showing against the Cherries
Alexis Sanchez continued his fine run of form for Arsenal as
Arsene Wenger's side put in an impressive second-half
display against Burnley to win 3-0 at the Emirates on
Saturday afternoon.
The Gunners had failed to collect a Premier League win on
their own turf since the opening day against Crystal Palace
and they appeared set for another afternoon of frustration
against the bottom side in the division.
Burnley winger George Boyd was fortunate not to concede a
penalty before half-time, while Alexis – who scored both goals
in the 2-0 triumph at Sunderland - drew two fine saves from
Tom Heaton.
But it was the former Barcelona man who sparked relief
around the Emirates Stadium in the 70th minute.
Impressive right-back Calum Chambers crossed for Alexis to
score with a header, and the teenager added a second himself
two minutes later with his first goal in senior football.
Alexis fashioned space from Kieran Gibbs' low centre to net a
10th goal in 12 appearances in the final minute and add gloss
to the scoreline, as Arsenal moved above West Ham into
fourth, while Burnley are three points adrift at the bottom and
five from safety.
Arsenal were unchanged from the team that beat Sunderland
last weekend, while Burnley recalled midfielder Dean Marney
following a hamstring injury and striker Marvin Sordell.
The hosts dominated possession but made little impression
on Burnley until Kieran Tripper produced a vital clearing
header to deny Danny Welbeck in the 21st minute after Alex
Oxlade-Chamberlain had raced away down the Burnley left.
From the resulting corner, Boyd – already booked for an
earlier foul on Santi Cazorla - flicked the ball with a stray
hand but the officials remained unmoved.
Arsenal found a way through down the right again in the 26th
minute, but Cazorla smashed a shot wide from Oxlade-
Chamberlain's pullback after good work from Alexis.
The visitors enjoyed a rare foray into the opposition penalty
area five minutes later, only for Mathieu Flamini to make an
important interception by prodding Scott Arfield's pass away
from Danny Ings.
Alexis then twice went close, first cutting in from the left and
forcing Heaton to push away his rasping drive before arching
another 25-yard effort narrowly past the right-hand post.
Heaton proved Alexis' equal once more when the livewire
forward raced into the box five minutes before the interval, as
Burnley managed to reach the break unscathed.
Ings was unable to capitalise on a moment of confusion
between Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny and Per
Mertesacker in the 50th minute as Sean Dyche's men made a
more assertive start to the second period.
The right flank remained fruitful for Arsenal but Alexis and
Gibbs were unable to scramble the ball home from Oxlade-
Chamberlain's latest cross.
Michael Duff produced some remarkable defensive heroics for
the visitors as he flung himself to ground to deny Cazorla
with the goal gaping after Chambers' cutback.
The pressure eventually told, though - almost inevitably from
the Burnley left - as Alexis got ahead of Trippier to net a fine
header from Chambers' cross.
The creator then became the goalscorer two minutes later,
with Chambers on hand to steer home after a combination of
Heaton and David Jones had denied Welbeck.
The Arsenal faithful warmly welcomed back Theo Walcott
from his lengthy injury absence soon afterwards and the
England man and fellow substitute Lukas Podolski drew
magnificent saves from Heaton in the closing minutes as
Burnley’s resistance faded, allowing Alexis to have the final
word with a third goal.