Aaron Ramsey's goal clinched three points for Arsenal at Burnley

Published: 12 April, 2015 
By STEVE BARNETT 

Premier League 
BURNLEY 0, ARSENAL 1 

ARSENE Wenger praised "the balance" Francis Coquelin brings to his team following Arsenal's hard-fought 1-0 win at Burnley on Saturday evening. 

Aaron Ramsey scored the winner at Turf Moor, but it was Coquelin's man-of-the-match display, breaking up the Burnley attacks and winning the ball back, that really made the difference. 

"First of all, he’s shown his individual quality winning the ball and passing it quickly, and he’s very strong in the challenges," said Wenger. 

"He also contributes to the balance of the team, and that’s very difficult to measure. You know that the balance of the team sometimes depends on one player who has some characteristics that the others don’t. He looks like he has hugely contributed to that." 

Coquelin played his part in the only goal of the game, intercepting Jason Shackell's pass and sending Arsenal on the attack. The move led to a chance for Mesut Ozil, whose effort across goal was saved by Tom Heaton. 

Burnley failed to clear their lines, however, and the ball fell to Alexis Sanchez. His effort from eight yards was blocked by Kieran Trippier, only for the ball to fall to Ramsey who fired the Gunners into a 12th-minute lead. 

In a scrappy game of few real clearcut chances it was enough to earn Arsenal their eighth win in a row, the best run since The Invincibles team of 2004. 

But, despite boasting the form team in the Premier League, Wenger was more concerned by the teams below his side rather than talk of catching leaders Chelsea. 

"Nothing has changed. Chelsea are still too comfortable," said the Arsenal boss. "We need a perfect run and we need a non-perfect run from them. We cannot master that, we can only master our attitude. 

"Manchester City, Manchester United, Southampton, Liverpool and Tottenham are behind us. We want to keep winning because we have to look behind us as well as at Chelsea. 

"We have made a little bit of distance between us."

ARSENAL: Ospina, Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Coquelin, Cazorla, Ramsey, Ozil, Sanchez (Chambers, 93), Giroud (Welbeck, 82) 
Substitutes not used: Szczesny, Gibbs, Flamini, Rosicky, Walcott 
Attendance: 20,615