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Chris Wood has scored 22 goals at Turf Moor in the Premier League, the most of any player
Arsenal was denied victory by the wood, a heroic defense from Burnley and the video assistant referee amid a dramatic late attack when Granit Xhaka’s mistake ultimately cost the Gunners dearly.
After Xhaka’s errant pass hit Chris Wood for a rare draw to cancel Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s first goal, Arsenal exerted relentless pressure in the final stages.
The Gunners thought they had been awarded a penalty against Erik Pieters, but the VAR disallowed the penalty and the defender’s red card deliberately after replays showed he had deflected Nicolas Pepe’s shot to the crossbar with his shoulder.
That wasn’t the end of the late drama, as Ben Mee’s blocking denied Aubameyang a sure winner in injury time before Dani Ceballos crashed an effort into the post with nearly the last kick of the game.
Ultimately, though, the blame for the lost points will fall on the doorstep of Xhaka, who was sent off in the Gunners’ December loss to Burnley and had another day to forget against the Clarets.
Receiving an ill-advised short pass in front of his own goal from goalkeeper Bernd Leno, he attempted to cut a square ball to David Luiz through the penalty area, but only managed to hit Wood in the stomach and the ball bounced off an empty net for the softer . levelers.
Encouraged by the unexpected gift, Burnley controlled a second half before Arsenal’s late siege, but Leno first produced a good save to avoid Erik Pieters’ 30-yard volley, then used his leg to deny Wood in a one-on-one. . .
A fifth straight home draw sits inches behind Burnley at 15th, seven points ahead of the last three in the Premier League, while Arsenal remain 10th, their hopes of a late boost to European qualification hampered. by two lost points.
