Considering the problems many top Premier League sides have endured at Turf Moor this season, Arsenal can be pleased with their 1-0 lead at the interval.
It’s not been the most exciting of first halves but the Gunners ensured their early pressure told; amid a scramble inside the Burnley box, the ball somehow found its way to a volleying Aaron Ramsey after a series of shots, blocks, Tom Heaton saves and ricochets.
The Welshman’s ability to penetrate past Giroud has been the visitors’ most effective method going forward. Minutes following his opener, Ramsey almost set up Santi Cazorla after another elusive run past the Gunners front-man, only for the referee to call offside.
That being said, Burnley will also see plenty of positives from their first half display. They’ve kept Arsenal away from their goal for the majority of the match whilst producing a handful of half chances at the other end.
Right-back Kieran Trippier, who has been a persistent – albeit somewhat effective – threat from the right flank, almost beat David Ospina with a curling free kick from twenty yards upon the 20th minute, but the Arsenal No.1 matched it all the way – adding to a spate of hairy moments for the Arsenal defence earlier in the game.
Moments later, Cazorla had a dead ball effort of his own, a vicious strike that whistled just half a yard high of Heaton’s top right corner.
But as the pace of the match petered out as the half-time whistle loomed, Burnley will be pleased to have accomplished their priority objective – staying in the game against the Premier League’s most in form side of 2015.