Balls that have been bouncing off Theo in recent weeks were sticking, passes that were going astray were finding their intended targets. The more the simple tasks came off the more his confidence grew

Match Review – Arsenal 3 Burnley 1 – Premier League

Well that did not unfold as I expected it to. There I was predicting the world in the pre match report, some recent success clearly getting the better of me.

Bendtner was the one to watch, scoring a brace. Diaby and Arshavin were starters. How wrong could I have been.

The result went our way in the end and that is all that counts at this stage, a quick glance at the goal difference tells me to rethink that statement but the result still remains the most important.

Theo Walcott was in impressive form at the right time and the wide man looked our most threatening player throughout the game.

Burnley who were set up to play on the counter were in suicidal mood early on, leaving huge gaps behind them. This simply encouraged the likes of Cesc and co to play balls into the path of the quick healed Walcott.

Returning duo Diaby and Arshavin started on the bench, perhaps with the Porto game in mind while Denilson replaced the suspended Alex Song in the holding midfield position.

We started on the front foot and took the game to Burnley, as we usually do at home. It took only a matter of minutes before the Arsenal started to carve out chances. Bendtner had a great early chance after being found by captain Fabtastic. Bendtner was unable to get his shot away quickly enough before Paterson made a great last ditch tackle.

Had that chance been put away then it could have been a totally different game for the great Dane. Nicklas Bendtner had been in good goal scoring form before the kick off, netting in each of his last three games but it was not going to be his afternoon. He found himself in many good positions and on another day could have scored at least a hat-trick. Bendtner may have been forgiven for feeling a sense of deja vu when watching his spurned efforts against Brian Jensen. He had one of those games to forget in the Carling Cup at Burnley last year.

Plenty of credit must go to Theo for his performance. The pressure has been on the young man, especially after his indifferent game for England. He dusted himself down and look highly motivated to do well. Balls that have been bouncing off Theo in recent weeks were sticking, passes that were going astray were finding their intended targets. The more the simple tasks came off the more his confidence grew.

Nasri took a beast like thud in his back from the Burnley keeper and I thought his time on the pitch could well have been over such was the uncomfort he appeared to be in. Moments before that Abou Diaby was warming up on the sidelines, I had no clue that Cesc was feeling a hamstring problem at the time.

Hamstring or no hamstring Cesc made the difference and just after the half hour mark, one of the many intricate moves finally came off. Nasri was found on the edge of the penalty area, Cesc made a darting run inside the center halves and Samir Nasri chipped a perfect pass into Cesc’s penalty box run, Cesc side footed through Jensen’s legs for the opener.

Had the pass been made from Cesc, we would have all been cooing over it, so credit must go to Nasri for a wonderfully weighted chip.

Minutes later the game could have been wrapped up, Theo Walcott exploded past his man and played a pin point cross to Bendtner who missed from close range.

Cesc Fabregas had been replaced by Abou Diaby which left me worrying a little, I must say. Especially as I didn’t know what the problem was at the time. I was hoping that it was just a precautionary move from Wenger and that he was still going to be involved in the run in.

Abou Diaby was fantastic when he came on, he looked sharp, full of confidence and made an instant impact. I wouldn’t have any other midfielder in our midfield alongside Song and Cesc.

I was intrigued to know what the reaction would be like to the first strong tackle and Theo was on the receiving end of a sliding Daniel Fox challenge. The left back had already endured a terrible opening to the game from his opponent and I suppose the only way to deal with someone like Theo is a ‘good old get in their faces tackle’ to be fair the tackle was not over the ball, although forceful. Theo jumped the tackle and when he eventually reached back down to earth he squared up to the player, displaying his disapproval. Theo certainly seems to have a bit more spark about him these days.

Arsenal went in at half time leading by a goal to nil but it could and most probably should have been more. The feeling around the stadium felt somewhat tense. Perhaps our inability to kill the game off was causing anxiety amongst the Gooner faithful.

Minutes after half time, Theo Walcott produced the best cross of the game, an inch perfect curling cross onto the head of Bendtner who from close range would have expected to put it away but his bad luck continued and his effort finished wide of the post. Moments later, Walcott fashioned another chance for Bendtner but this time his blasted over the bar.

Bendtner’s performance reminded me a little of his display against Blackburn Rovers last season at the Emirates. He kept getting in those goal scoring positions but his finishing had let him down time and time again. I get the sense that he needs to relax a little when presented with a chance but once he has missed one then it looks like he snatches at the rest until he gets his goal. The goal that did not come for him today.

Arsenal were punished five minutes into the half, totally against the run of play Burnley played a simple ball back over the top to Nugent. For some reason both Vermaelen and Silvestre were not goal side of the striker. The former Manchester City forward caught Almunia off his line with a superb lob on the half volley.

Arsenal cranked up the gears once more and pushed for a winner, Theo Walcott ran in from the right and had a shot well saved by Jensen. It wasn’t to be his last attempt on the Burnley goal.

Three minutes later, Theo darted at the Burnley penalty area cut inside on his left foot and curled a shot past Jensen into the net for his second league goal of the season. A goal that will do the youngster the world of good. Sometimes I think some who should know better like Chris Waddle forget that he is a youngster, and with youth comes inconsistency. I hope that Theo now goes from strength to strength because he will be a potent weapon for the remainder of the games.

Bendtner missed another Walcott cross before he was replaced by Eduardo. It was great to hear the home fans applaud him as he left the field, it was clearly a day for Bendtner to forget but he got himself into those positions and worked hard for the team, on another day he could have claimed the match ball. I remember the early days when Thierry Henry was moved as a central striker for Arsenal, he had very difficult days when nothing would come off for him until he clicked. There is no reason why Bendtner cannot do the same. All he needs is hard work and experience in front of goal.

Arshavin who replaced Rosicky fired in the third in stoppage time with his left foot, a powerfully drilled snap shot off the near post.

It wasn’t the best of performances but the three points are what we came for, anything extra is a bonus. The pre match talk would have been about Aaron Ramsey, I am sure he would have been punching the air at full time.

Four straight wins on the trot, nine to go.