Burnley 0-1 Arsenal: Aaron Ramsey earns Gunners eighth straight league win

By Gerard Brand

Sunday 12 April 2015 01:55, UK

Arsenal kept their faint Premier League title hopes alive with a narrow 1-0 win over Burnley at Turf Moor thanks to Aaron Ramsey's first-half strike.

Ramsey scored the game's only goal after 12 minutes, smashing in from 10 yards after the Gunners had twice been denied from close range.

Burnley's George Boyd miscued the hosts' best chance in a second half lacking clear-cut opportunities, and Arsene Wenger's side held on for an eighth straight Premier League win.

The result leaves the Gunners four points off league leaders Chelsea, who have two games in hand, while Burnley remain two points from safety in the relegation places with six games remaining.

Alexis Sanchez had the first chance of the game for Arsenal, but blazed an effort over from 10 yards as the ball fell kindly to him in the area.

But Wenger's in-form side were ahead shortly after courtesy of Welshman Ramsey, despite Burnley's best efforts to keep out two previous efforts.

Mesut Ozil's effort across the goal was saved by Tom Heaton, before Sanchez's effort from eight yards was blocked by Kieran Trippier, only for the ball to fall to Ramsey.

Burnley refused to crumble despite the early setback, and Trippier brought a good save out of David Ospina in the Arsenal goal from a 25-yard free-kick.

From the same position at the other end, Sanchez's curling set piece went just high and wide of Heaton's goal as Arsenal chased a two-goal cushion before the break.

Burnley battled well after the break, keeping the intensity up and causing Arsenal defenders problems throughout.

But it was Ramsey who could have doubled Arsenal's lead, but he saw his effort superbly blocked by Ben Mee from close range.

Burnley nearly levelled with 20 minutes remaining after Mee's cross from the left looked to find Boyd at the back post, but the midfielder failed to connect with the centre from 10 yards.

Arsenal's eight-game winning streak, gained since losing 2-1 to Tottenham in the north London derby in February, is the first from any side this season in the Premier League.

Player ratings

Burnley: Heaton (6), Trippier (6), Duff (6), Shackell (6), Mee (7); Boyd (5), Arfield (5), Jones (5), Barnes (5); Vokes (6), Ings (6) Subs: Taylor (5)

Arsenal: Ospina (6), Bellerin (5), Mertesacker (6), Koscielny (5), Monreal (5), Coquelin (7), Cazorla (5), Ramsey (7), Ozil (6), Sanchez (4), Giroud (6) Subs: Chambers (5), Welbeck (5)

Man of the match: Aaron Ramsey