Koscielny's disputed late winner downs Burnley

Burnley - Laurent Koscielny's controversial goal in the third minute of stoppage time enabled Arsene Wenger to celebrate his 20th anniversary as Arsenal manager with a 1-0 win away to Burnley in the Premier League on Sunday.

Burnley looked to have deservedly earned a point until, at a short-corner routine, substitute Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain sent Theo Walcott's flick towards goal at the far post. The close-range effort looked to find the net off the hand of team-mate Koscielny who was stationed virtually on the goal-line.

Along with the suggestion of handball, both Arsenal players appeared offside, but referee Craig Pawson was unmoved by the ensuing Burnley protests at Turf Moor.

A fifth consecutive league win lifted Wenger's side up to third, two points behind leaders Manchester City and a point drift of north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur in what looks increasingly like being an open title race this season.

It was a contest neither side deserved to lose, although Arsenal almost found the net before the disputed winner, when Walcott's curling 20-yard effort drifted inches wide of Tom Heaton's left-hand post.

Defeat was extremely harsh on Burnley, who remains 14th on the back of another hard-working performance full of character, as it continues to impress on its return to the top flight following promotion in May.

The Clarets nearly broke the deadlock when, with 15 minutes left, recalled 'keeper Petr Cech touched defender Michael Keane header against the Arsenal bar as the visitors posted a fourth consecutive clean sheet, a run spanning more than six hours.

Cech had also been forced to save well from a Johann Berg Gudmundsson header early in the second-half as the Clarets aimed for a repeat of their victory over Liverpool here earlier in the season.

This victory was rather less clearcut, although Arsenal rarely looked in danger at the outset of their latest visit to Lancashire.

Sam Vokes, the Wales international, had proved a threat throughout with his physical presence and restless work-rate.

However, Burnley's lone forward should have done much better when he headed wide from near the penalty spot after meeting Matt Lowton's cross from the right unmarked after being played onside by Hector Bellerin.