ALEXIS Sanchez was the hero at the Emirates this afternoon as his match-winning strike sealed a 2-1 win over “awkward customers” Burnley, taking Arsenal a step closer in their defence of the FA Cup.

The Chilean striker had not started for the Gunners since November but took no time in dusting off the cobwebs, threading his way through defenders and unleashing his killer finish when it counted, to send his team into the fifth round of the competition.

Speaking after the match, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger said Sanchez was “physically ready” to be back in the starting eleven: “He had a long rest now. When he got injured, you could see signs of fatigue. I think two months’ rest is a good winter break!”

From the whistle it was clear the Arsenal talisman was always going to be the difference between the two sides, and his strike, the end-product of a free-flowing move involving Alex Iwobi, Olivier Giroud and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain seemed written into the script.

But Arsenal’s opener – a wonder goal curled in from 18 yards – came from the more unlikely source of defender Calum Chambers, filling in for the rested Hector Bellerin. Struck perfectly with the outside of his right foot few would believe it was only his second goal for the club. Wenger was unsurprised, informing reporters nonchalantly: “He’s quite a good finisher in training”.

The manager had made nine changes to the side that lost 1-0 against Chelsea in the league last Sunday but the experienced line-up showed a determination not to get dumped out of the cup by the high-flying Championship side.

Burnley boss Sean Dyche said he had wanted his team to be an “awkward customer” against the premier league opposition – and they were – with plenty of furrowed brows around the Emirates after Sam Vokes’ header from a Tendayi Darikwa cross levelled the score-line in the 31st minute.

The Clarets started the second half on top too, with Scott Arfield forcing an early save from Ospina as he ran onto a through ball from David Jones. But the home side gave them no respite, and from the moment Sanchez put the Gunners ahead Burnley looked out of ideas, and an Arsenal victory the only outcome.

New signing Mohamed Elneny looked desperate for a fairytale finish on his debut – shooting from 20 yards in a distinctly un-Arsenal-like fashion. It remains to be seen whether he can be the defensive midfielder Arsenal crave – as Wenger said after the game it takes time to adjust to the “power” of premier league football – but the Egyptian’s debut bristled with energy. 

Francis Coquelin was also back ahead of schedule and cheers rang around the Emirates stadium to greet Tomas Rosicky when he was brought on for impressive youngster Alex Iwobi.

Both sides had good chances in extra time, Burnley substitute Michael Kightly fired one over the bar, and striker Andre Gray shot wide. Theo Walcott, on as a substitute for Sanchez, was handed a glorious opportunity to beat Burnley keeper Tom Heaton one-on-one but stopped to think and dribbled the ball straight into his path, forgoing the chance to win it in style.

ARSENAL: Ospina, Gibbs, Gabriel, Koscielny, Giroud, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Sanchez (Walcott 80), Chambers, Coquelin (Arteta 71) , Elneny, Iwobi (Rosicky 71)
Substitutes not used: Monreal, Bellerin, Ozil, Campbell, Cech
Attendance: 59,932