Arsenal vs Burnley. The FA Cup Fourth Round.
Emirates StadiumAttendance59,932.
Sunday 31 January 2016 14:23, UK
Alexis Sanchez scored on his first start since November as Arsenal kept their dream of a third straight FA Cup alive with a 2-1 victory against Championship side Burnley at the Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners' opener came from an unlikely source as Calum Chambers put his side ahead on 19 minutes with a superb curling effort before Sam Vokes powered a header past David Ospina to bring the visitors level before the break.
Sanchez, who returned to Arsenal's starting line-up alongside Francis Coquelin, restored the home side's lead in the 53rd minute as the holders held on to book their spot in Sunday's fifth-round draw.
Arsene Wenger's side have now gone 14 games unbeaten in the FA Cup as they look to defend the trophy they have won for the past two seasons, while Burnley, who sit third in the Championship, will turn their attention back to their promotion bid.
Arsenal made nine changes from the side that lost 1-0 to Chelsea last weekend with Mohamed Elneny coming in for his debut and Sanchez and Coquelin returning to the starting line-up following long injury lay-offs.
But Wenger's men were handed an early warning when Vokes' knock-down found Gray inside the box, the striker unable to hit the target.
The hosts responded through the lively Sanchez, who cut inside on his right foot before firing just wide of Tom Heaton's near post.
Arsenal were given another fright in the 11th minute when Gray robbed Laurent Koscielny of the ball before running through on goal, Ospina standing firm to make a smart block.
Despite Burnley's excellent start it was Arsenal who broke the deadlock in the 19th minute when Sanchez found Chambers - who had had a shot blocked minutes earlier - and watched the full-back curl a stunning effort beyond the dive of Heaton and into the far corner.
However, Burnley responded just before the break when Vokes (30) rose highest to power Tendayi Darikwa's inch-perfect cross past Ospina.
After the break, it was Burnley who created the first clear-cut chance with Scott Arfield racing away from Gabriel, before firing a shot straight at Ospina.
Minutes later and the visitors were punished as Arsenal broke on the counter-attack, moving the ball at pace as Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain pulled the ball back for Sanchez to smash past Heaton and notch his side's 50th FA Cup goal at the Emirates.
Burnley were not giving up without a fight and they could have been back on level terms in the 64th minute when Koscielny got to George Boyd's cross ahead of Vokes.
With both sides in action in midweek, the managers started to make changes with Tomas Rosicky introduced for the hosts for his first appearance of the season.
Sean Dyche brought on Joey Barton to a chorus of boos as Burnley looked for a way back into the match and it nearly paid dividends as Gray raced away from Gabriel only to fire his shot into the side netting.
Arsenal had a flurry of late chances as Elneny volleyed wide and substitute Theo Walcott, who replaced Sanchez with just over 10 minutes to go, fluffed his lines as he went through one-on-one with Heaton.
But the Gunners were not made to pay as they held on to book their place in the next round.
