In a very entertaining and open first half, Burnley took full advantage of a Fabiansky mistake to end the first half ahead at Turf Moor.

The match started brightly for Arsenal and after just four minutes, Nicklas Bendtner was through on goal but his shot was well saved by Jensen, who like Wigan’s Kirkland in the previous round, is turning out to be a tough nut to crack. Just two minutes later, Burnley took the lead. Eagles delivered a low cross from the right, Fabianski came for it but failed to catch it and Kevin McDonald slotted it in from the edge of the six-yard box.

Arsenal’s reply came in the ninth minute when Bendtner was again through on goal and one-on-one with Jensen, but the keeper again won the battle by bravely saving the effort. Minutes after that, it was Merida and Vela’s turn to call Jensen into action with the Spaniard neatly chipping the ball and hitting a first-time volley which however didn’t trouble the keeper and the Mexican trying a low shot with no luck.

Burnley didn’t sit back and enjoyed a very good spell mid-way through the half in which Fabiansky was called into action a number of times. Arsenal’s reply to that were two glorious one-on-one with the keeper chances which saw Jensen being the winner in both. In the first, Bendtner flicked the ball to Randall who ran into open space but shot into the keeper and in the second, Bendtner was again the provider, this time for Vela, who battled his way into the penalty area but Jensen closed the door yet again.

Although Burnley are keeping a very high backline, we managed to create four glorious opportunities which we however failed to convert. Credit to Jensen, of course, but in all four occassions I believe our players could have done better. The match is far from over, we just need to be more cool in front of goal and as always, a little bit of luck.

At half time, Arsenal substituted Rogers with Lansbury.