Arsenal recorded a second successive league win for the first time this season as Burnley’s woes continued.
The Clarets frustrated Arsene Wenger’s side for 70 minutes before the excellent Alexis Sanchez struck with a close-range header.
Calum Chambers then added his first senior goal from a corner as Burnley’s resistance crumbled.
Sanchez fired in his second from Kieran Gibbs’s cross to leave Sean Dyche’s side rooted to the bottom of the table.
The scoreline was harsh on Burnley, who defended manfully for much of the game, but once Arsenal discovered a cutting edge the visitors’ rearguard was left brutally exposed.
The Gunners had been behind in each of their previous four home league games this season but a repeat of that scenario was never likely against a Burnley side who offered little going forward.
The hosts dominated possession in the opening exchanges but initially struggled to fashion clear-cut chances.
Walcott ends 10-month absence |
---|
Theo Walcott came on as a substitute in the 80th minute to make his first appearance since the FA Cup third-round win over Tottenham on 4 January |
Sanchez was their liveliest attacking outlet and it was he who created their best opportunity of the first period.
The Chilean played in Danny Welbeck, who skipped past two defenders and beat goalkeeper Tom Heaton only to see his shot come back off Kieran Trippier.
Heaton was in fine form, parrying well from two rasping Sanchez drives from outside the area.
However, Burnley’s biggest escape of the first 45 minutes came when George Boyd, who had already been booked, appeared to handle a corner but the offence was not seen by referee Craig Pawson.
The Clarets continued to hold firm after the interval to raise hopes of an unlikely point but Arsenal’s breakthrough eventually arrived through the irrepressible Sanchez.
Chambers sent in a fine cross from the right and summer signing Sanchez got above Trippier to power in his ninth goal of the season.
Burnley’s resistance was broken and Arsenal took just two minutes to add a second.
The Clarets failed to defend a corner and Chambers bundled home after Heaton had saved from Welbeck.
After Walcott was introduced, the Burnley keeper continued to impress, brilliantly denying Lukas Podolski.
But he could do nothing about Sanchez’s second as the visitors slumped to a sixth league defeat.