Sunday’s Premier League encounter between Arsenal and Burnley at the Emirates featured damn near everything. With Liverpool, Tottenham, Manchester City and Manchester United all failing to win on Saturday, it was up to the Gunners to keep the pressure on league leaders Chelsea.
Burnley set about frustrating Arsenal at their home stadium but Shkodran Mustafi’s first goal for the club gave the Gunners the lead on the 59th minute. However, only six minutes later, what might’ve been a routine victory was hugely complicated after a straight red card was shown to Granit Xhaka for lunging in on Steven Defour.
Arsenal lead Burnley 1-0, but now only have ten men for the remaining 20 minutes. Watch #PLonNBC here: https://t.co/9xdc9bn2xF pic.twitter.com/NMKoGSO0O2
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) January 22, 2017
Arsenal defended resolutely as they looked to hold on to their three points, only to concede a penalty three minutes into second half stoppage time. Jon Moss pointed to the spot after Francis Coquelin kicked Ashley Barnes in the box. All of Arsenal’s hard work, and their title ambitions, seemed undone when Andre Gray beat Petr Cech from the spot.
The devastation could be felt around the Emirates and with Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger. Knowing that this was much more than just two points dropped, he was sent to the stands for berating Moss. He even shoved the fourth official near the tunnel which will likely lead to an extended ban for the 67-year-old.
Arsène Wenger was not having any of it. [@JSolz] pic.twitter.com/biAZs8oqys
— Arsenal TSN (@ArsenalTSN) January 22, 2017
But in the dying embers of the game, a deep cross reached Laurent Koscielny, who appeared to be offside, for a free header at the back post. Some desperate defending from Ben Mee resulted in him kicking Koscielny in the face as he attempted to head the ball goalward. Once again, now in the 98th minute, Moss pointed to the spot. Alexis Sanchez stepped up and used what’s quickly becoming a trademark Panenka to send Tom Heaton the wrong way.
#ICYMI Alexis Sanchez bails 10-man Arsenal out with stoppage-time penalty kick #PLonNBC pic.twitter.com/A4zwzZkBVj
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) January 22, 2017
Wenger apologized for his actions, but he’ll almost certainly face some sort of action for his shove on the official.
Wenger admits he pushed the fourth official: "I regret everything. I should have shut up and gone home. I apologise for that"
— Oliver Kay (@OliverKayTimes) January 22, 2017
Following Sunday’s results, Arsenal are now second in the table, but Chelsea have an eight-point lead with 16 matches to play.
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