EPL: A defensive error, two lost points for Arsenal
It’s safe to say the odds were merely not in favour of Arsenal as they failed to grab three points against Burnley on Saturday, no thanks to a Granite Dhaka error, the woodwork, some steadfast Burnley defending and the video assistant referee, VAR in a drama-filled encounter at the Turf Moor.
Mikel Arteta’s men roared into action and took the lead six minutes into the game thanks go skipper Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s well-read low strike.
Arsenal looked like they were managing the game well until Granit Xhaka shot his team in the foot with a defensive error which gifted the hosts an equalizer to leave the game on levelled terms into the break.
After the break, the game picked up momentum as the visitors kept forging ahead, and in the 87th minute, the Gunners thought they’d earned a penalty against Erik Pieters. Still, the spot-kick and the defender’s red card for deliberate handball were overturned after a VAR review.
This occurred after an earlier appeal for a handball was overlooked as well.
The Gunners tried to get over the controversy. Still, they saw their injury-time quick fire attack and efforts end without a goal thanks to Ben Mee’s block and the woodwork, which ensured Arsenal picked just a point as they remained 10th on the log, further dwindling their hopes of qualifying for European competition.
As for 15th placed Burnley, the draw, their fifth home stalemate in a roll, moved them seven points clear of the Premier League bottom three.
For their next task, Arsenal will travel to Olympiakos in the last 16 of the Europa League on Thursday before hosting Tottenham Hotspur in a north London derby in the Premier League next Sunday. At the same time, Burnley will visit Everton in the Premier League next Saturday.
