FA Cup: Eduardo strike sees Arsenal dispatch Burnley

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Wenger had one eye on the midweek Champions League tie with Roma.

New Delhi: Arsenal progressed into the quarter-final of the FA cup with an excellent display against Championship side Burnley, scoring three exceptional goals and keeping yet another clean sheet.

The fifth round FA Cup tie at the Emirates Stadium saw Arsenal take on Burnley with a quarter-final berth against Hull City. This competition has become crucial for the Gunners, however, manager Arsene Wenger had one eye on the midweek Champions League tie with Roma and rested several key players.

It was Burnley that started the brightest, pressurising Abou Diaby by his own corner flag. The lanky midfielder duly presented Kevin McDonald with the ball but nothing came of the opportunity.

This pressure didn’t last long and it was Arsenal breaking forward with Diaby in the fourth minute. He spread the ball to Carlos Vela on the right who cut inside and lost the ball. Burnley sprang on the counter and Martin Paterson would have had a one-on-one with Lukasz Fabianski had it not been for an excellent challenge from Alexandre Song.

Four minutes later and Jenson was scrambling as the ball floated just past his top righthand corner. Emmanuel Eboue played Vela in down the right flank and the Mexican prospect did well to latch onto it and showed good strength to hold off his defender. He played it back to Bacary Sagna who unleashed a cross-shot but it was just off target.

Arsenal were now dominating possession, Arshavin did well to win a corner and it was floated in by Vela. It was cleared by Stephen Caldwell only as fair as Kieran Gibbs. The confident young full-back volleyed but the ball whisked just wide of the post.

Arsenal took the lead from a truly world class piece of individual brilliance from Vela. Letting the ball run across his body he then cut back across his defender, playing the ball through his legs. The Mexican was away and shrugged off the trailing defender before executing his trademark chip finish under pressure. It was a fantastic goal, with only 24minutes on the clock.

A defensively impressive Song then turned provider, chesting down and turning defender in the middle of the park. The Cameroon international then lofted a beautiful ball forward for Vela who controlled the ball perfectly with his chest. Only a last ditch tackle from Clarke Carlisle prevented Arsenal from doubling their advantage.

For all of Arsenal’s dominance they nearly conceded a goal just before the break. Conceding a sloppy corner, a woeful piece of goalkeeping saw Lukasz Fabianski attempt to punch and connect with nothing but thin air. The ball was eventually scrambled clear by Arsenal but it was a decidedly dodgy spot of goalkeeping.

Arsenal responded as Eduardo, captaining the side, played a wonderful flick through to Eboue. The Ivorian elected to go near post and his shot was saved by Jensen, it was the wrong option as Vela had got clear of his marker and was waiting to tap the ball in.

The second half started in the same vein as the first, with Arsenal dominating possession. When Arsenal scored their second goal it was a piece of unbelievable magic from Eduardo.

Gibbs squared the ball to Song in the middle who spotted Eduardo on the edge of the box. The Brazilian made his move as Song chipped the ball over the top, leaving his defender for dust Eduardo volleyed the ball first time with the outside of his left boot and it rocketed into the top lefthand corner. It was a finish of such quality words cannot do it justice.

Burnley were quick to respond through Paterson. The lively striker was one of Burnley’s brightest players, he received the ball 20yards from goal and quickly released a curling strike towards Fabianski’s lefthand post. The Polish keeper was scrambling and the ball was inches wide, it was a good effort.

The 63rd minute saw Sagna breaking down the right following a foul on Robin Van Persie, who had replaced Vela, the French full-back crossed to Eduardo at the backpost and the Brazilian dragged his header wide.

Burnley, to their credit, continued to venture forward, this resulted in aches of space opening up for Arsenal. Gibbs took advantage and went on a forage through the Burnley backline, cutting in from the left and ending up in the righthand side of the box after beating numerous players. The youngster ran out of steam and was duly dispossessed.

Robbie Blake was impressive in his build up play but often picked the wrong option or overhit his final ball. Showing good skill in the 73rd minute but when the cross arrived Fabianski plucked it out of the air easily with nobody in sight.

Substitute Wade Elliot received the ball following a crossfield pass from McDonald, the winger drove at Gibbs but when he released the trigger the ball veered high and wide. It was a waste as Burnley had committed men to the box.

Arshavin picked up the ball in the middle of the park. Turning, the Russian ran at the Burnley defence and released substitute Theo Walcott through on the 76th minute, the England international did well to latch onto the ball but his finish was lax, sending the ball straight at the charging Jensen.

Walcott charged at the Burnley defence from the right and spotted Van Persie pulling off his defender at the backpost. Walcott sent a lovely chipped cross towards the Dutch international but Van Persie miscued his volley and the ball trickled lamely wide.

Arsenal had the ball in the net for a third time and it was a lovely team goal. Arshavin picked up the ball in the middle, turned and slotted Walcott through who in turn played to Van Persie. The Dutchman finished with ease but Walcott had been flagged offside. Replays showed this was a dubious decision.

Moments later Arsenal had scored a genuine third. William Gallas played the ball through to Song on the right. He supplied a wonderful backheel to Eboue who didn’t hesistate and smashed the ball into the bottom corner.

Burnley never gave up and in the 85th minute they broke well down the right and Gallas headed away the resulting cross in the box. The corner he conceded saw Caldwell rattle the crossbar with a strong header. It would have been a consolation Burnley deserved for their continued attacking endeavour.

In the end it was a game Arsenal dominated, making a very good Championship outfit look exceedingly ordinary in the process. Burnley will now look to try and secure a playoff place in the Championship while Wenger will hope his Arsenal side can use this excellent performance as a springboard in the latter stages of their campaign.