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 fro
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 Gibb
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 ma
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.
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