Frustrated Arsenal lose momentum at Burnley

Burnley 1 Arsenal 1. Just as soon as their title bid was back on Arsenal conspired to throw away all the momentum they had gathered as they played out a draw with Burnley at Turf Moor.

After the Gunners' win at Anfield there was plenty of bluster about their new-found steel and chances in the League, but not for the first time Arsene Wenger's pretty boys could not subdue the locals when they headed north. As a result the Londoners are now eight points away from league leaders Chelsea, although they have a game in hand.

Arsenal took the lead after just six minutes when Andrey Bikey was caught in possession and Arsenal skipper Cesc Fabregas skipped into the box and beat Brian Jensen.

Burnley had hit the woodwork in the opening seconds, but after taking the lead the Gunners were in total control. Yet it was an all to familiar and frustrating story for the travelling fans as Fabregas wasted another chance and Andrei Arshavin hit the post.

As usual the Gunners were left to rue their failure to put the game to bed when Thomas Vermaelen pulled down Bikey in the box after half-an-hour and 38-year-old verteran Graham Alexander stepped up to convert the spot kick. It was his 70th successful penalty out of 74 attempts during his long career, and his 100th league goal.

The second half saw more pleasant Arsenal build-up play but no-one could find a way past Jensen. Indeed, it was Burnley who found the net through Steve Fletcher, but his effort was offside.

To make matters worse for Wenger, Fabregas was forced off with a hamstring injury. The win over Liverpool at the weekend now seems like another case of two steps forward one step back for Arsenal. ·