Burnley dismiss Arsenal's young guns
Tuesday, 02 Dec 2008 23:04
Nicklas Bendtner spurned a number of opportunities for Arsenal
Burnley have progressed to the semi-finals of the Carling Cup with a comprehensive win over Arsenal's young guns at Turf Moor.
Having dispatched an experienced Chelsea side in the last round, two goals from Kevin McDonald gave Owen Coyle's Championship side a well-deserved 2-0 victory over Arsene Wenger's team.
It took just six minutes for Burnley to take the lead when former Manchester United player Chris Eagles got round the back of the Arsenal defence and fired across the six-yard box.
Arsenal goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski could only parry the ball and McDonald was on hand to slot the ball home.
By that stage Arsenal could already have been one-up, but Nicklas Bendtner saw his left-footed effort saved by Burnley goalkeeper Brian Jensen.
The giant Jensen was again called upon after 10 minutes to make an almost identical save, again from Bendtner.
Burnley were getting the better of the inexperienced Arsenal side however, and Eagles went close with a deflected shot which hit the side-netting and Martin Paterson shot straight at Fabianski.
Jensen then made vital saves from Mark Randall and Carlos Vela as Burney took their lead into the interval.
Fran Merida went close to an equaliser shortly after the restart, but to the delight of the home crowd Burnley doubled their lead after 56 minutes.
McDonald got on the end of an Eagles throw-in and fired a beautiful shot past Fabianski from 15 yards.
Paterson could have made it three, but Burnley weren't to be outdone and now take their place in the last four.