Only Mo Salah, with 24, has more Premier League goals since Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's debut than Aubemayang (22).
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored twice as Arsenal hung on to maintain pressure on the top four and leave Burnley in the Premier League bottom three at Christmas.
Mesut Ozil - making a first start in six league matches - produced a sublime defence-splitting pass to Sead Kolasinac for Arsenal's opener, with the defender picking out Aubameyang for his 11th league goal of the season.
Remarkably, after 18 top-flight games, Arsenal led at the interval for the first time this season and it took the Gunners fewer than three second-half minutes to double the advantage, Aubameyang's powerful finish completing a quick counter-attack.
Burnley kept to their task though and Ashley Barnes brought the Clarets back into the contest on 63 minutes with a low finish after the home side failed to clear.
The home fans grew increasingly nervous as Burnley pushed for an equaliser but Alex Iwobi scored from close range in stoppage-time to ensure the Gunners moved level with fourth-placed Chelsea ahead of the Blues' match against Leicester.
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Live Premier League coverage
Arsenal v Burnley as it happened
After their impressive 22-game unbeaten run was ended by a revitalised Southampton last weekend, Arsenal exited the Carabao Cup to north London rivals Tottenham in midweek and needed to produce a response at Emirates Stadium - if only to keep in touch with the top four.
Unai Emery's side started accordingly. The Arsenal manager stated this week that Ozil does have a future at Arsenal and the opener was all about the midfielder's genius.
The German demonstrated his value to the Gunners with a ball from the edge of the area that curled behind the Burnley defence, finding Kolasinac at the back post and his first-time flick back found Aubameyang, who placed his shot into the bottom corner.
Success so far this campaign has relied on strong second-half showings from Arsenal, and the tireless Kolasinac lead an explosive counter-attack on 47 minutes which resulted in Aubameyang firing his second into the roof of Joe Hart's goal.
And Ozil was at the heart of Arsenal's third, drifting into the penalty area and committing a couple of defenders before his scuffed shot found its way to Iwobi. Replays suggested the Arsenal substitute was marginally offside but the match officials allowed the goal to stand.
It provided welcome relief for the Gunners after Burnley had threatened to snatch a point.
The Gunners have been forced to field a makeshift defence in recent games - leading Emery to admit he may use the January transfer window to strengthen his options - and there were often hints of that fragility before Barnes eventually took advantage of some half-hearted attempts to clear to halve Burnley's deficit.
And the hosts continued to struggle after the Clarets turned the contest into a bruising battle.
More to follow.
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Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text
Line-ups
Arsenal
19Leno
15Maitland-Niles
5PapastathopoulosBooked at 41mins
18MonrealSubstituted forLichtsteinerat 37'minutes
31Kolasinac
4ElnenySubstituted forTorreiraat 59'minutes
34Xhaka
29GuendouziBooked at 59mins
10Özil
14Aubameyang
9LacazetteSubstituted forIwobiat 78'minutes
1Cech
8Ramsey
11Torreira
12Lichtsteiner
17Iwobi
49Nketiah
87Saka
Burnley
20Hart
26BardsleySubstituted forLowtonat 83'minutes
28Long
5Tarkowski
6MeeBooked at 60mins
3Taylor
18WestwoodBooked at 90mins
4CorkBooked at 60mins
13Hendrick
10BarnesBooked at 36minsSubstituted forVokesat 77'minutes
11WoodBooked at 47minsSubstituted forVydraat 77'minutes
1Heaton
2Lowton
9Vokes
14Gibson
27Vydra
31McNeil
42Koiki
Referee:
Kevin Friend
Attendance:
59,493
Match Stats
Home TeamArsenalAway TeamBurnley
Possession
Home60%
Away40%
Shots
Home10
Away7
Shots on Target
Home6
Away2
Corners
Home1
Away3
Fouls
Home10
Away14
Live Text
Posted at
Match ends, Arsenal 3, Burnley 1.Full TimePosted at 90'+6'
Second Half ends, Arsenal 3, Burnley 1.
Posted at 90'+6'
Lucas Torreira (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.Posted at 90'+6'
Foul by Jeff Hendrick (Burnley).BookingPosted at 90'+1'
Ashley Westwood (Burnley) is shown the yellow card.
Goal!Posted at 90'+1'
Goal! Arsenal 3, Burnley 1. Alex Iwobi (Arsenal) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box to the centre of the goal.Posted at 90'+1'
Attempt blocked. Mesut Özil (Arsenal) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Alex Iwobi.Posted at 89'
Foul by Sead Kolasinac (Arsenal).Posted at 89'
James Tarkowski (Burnley) wins a free kick in the defensive half.Posted at 83'
Offside, Burnley. Matthew Lowton tries a through ball, but Matej Vydra is caught offside.SubstitutionPosted at 83'
Substitution, Burnley. Matthew Lowton replaces Phil Bardsley.Posted at 83'
Delay over. They are ready to continue.Posted at 81'
Delay in match Ainsley Maitland-Niles (Arsenal) because of an injury.Posted at 81'
Attempt missed. Charlie Taylor (Burnley) left footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the left following a set piece situation.Posted at 80'
Foul by Lucas Torreira (Arsenal).Posted at 80'
Ashley Westwood (Burnley) wins a free kick in the defensive half.Posted at 80'
Granit Xhaka (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.Posted at 80'
Foul by Matej Vydra (Burnley).Posted at 79'
Offside, Burnley. Sam Vokes tries a through ball, but Jeff Hendrick is caught offside.SubstitutionPosted at 78'
Substitution, Arsenal. Alex Iwobi replaces Alexandre Lacazette.SubstitutionPosted at 77'
Substitution, Burnley. Matej Vydra replaces Chris Wood.SubstitutionPosted at 77'
Substitution, Burnley. Sam Vokes replaces Ashley Barnes.Posted at 75'
Matteo Guendouzi (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.Posted at 75'
Foul by Chris Wood (Burnley).Posted at 72'
Granit Xhaka (Arsenal) wins a free kick on the left wing.Posted at 72'
Foul by Ashley Westwood (Burnley).Posted at 71'
Alexandre Lacazette (Arsenal) wins a free kick on the left wing.Posted at 71'
Foul by Kevin Long (Burnley).Posted at 70'
Attempt missed. Jack Cork (Burnley) right footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Chris Wood.Posted at 69'
Stephan Lichtsteiner (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.Posted at 69'
Foul by Ashley Barnes (Burnley).Posted at 67'
Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Kevin Long.
Goal!Posted at 63'
Goal! Arsenal 2, Burnley 1. Ashley Barnes (Burnley) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Kevin Long.Posted at 63'
Attempt blocked. Ashley Barnes (Burnley) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Ben Mee with a headed pass.Posted at 62'
Foul by Granit Xhaka (Arsenal).Posted at 62'
Ashley Barnes (Burnley) wins a free kick in the attacking half.Posted at 62'
Foul by Sokratis (Arsenal).Posted at 62'
Chris Wood (Burnley) wins a free kick in the attacking half.Posted at 61'
Attempt missed. Lucas Torreira (Arsenal) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right from a direct free kick.BookingPosted at 60'
Jack Cork (Burnley) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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goal
Source: bbc.com
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