After party time in December the goals and the flair has totally dried up for Gunners

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ARSENAL’S end-ofseason party - bring your own boos – fell flat, and so far 2022 has been a stinker.

For the first time in 32 years, the Gunners are out of all the cup competitions, at home and abroad, before the end of January.

And fourth place – which is like winning a hideous trophy instead of the jackpot on a game show - will be a stretch if they continue to be as profligate.

December’s run of five straight wins is a distant memory.

They have not scored in four games and, for all their promise on a blank sabbath, they were as blunt as the back end of a bus.

At one stage, manager Mikel Arteta (above) lost his rag on the touchline. He insisted it was nothing to do with Burnley’s time-wasting, but some of the Clarets’ setpieces took longer than reading a novel.

Referee David Coote added only four minutes’ stoppage time. That just about covered one of Nick Pope’s goal-kicks.

But let’s hear it for the Clarets’ dogged back line, who refused to buckle when Arsenal cranked up the pressure after half-time. James Tarkowski and Ben Mee were outstanding.

This was Burnley’s 5,000th league match in the top four divisions - not including the play-offs - and they are only the second club after Preston North End to reach the landmark. It is fair say it was not the most exciting game in their history, but it is probably in the top 4,999.

Sean Dyche’s side did not play with the resignation of a team with just one win in 17 games, and in a match short of talking points to sustain the post-match pub debriefing beyond a swift half, Ashley Westwood’s firsthalf challenge on Kieran Tierney was probably the most contentious.

Coote’s sanction of a yellow card – for treading without due care and attention rather than a stamp - was probably about right. It was also the closest Burnley have come to having a player sent off since Arteta took charge of Arsenal in 2019.

In that time, the Gunners have collected 14 red cards, yet some would have you believe Burnley are cloggers and Arsenal angels. Desultory defeat in the same fixture 13 months ago had left Arteta staring down the barrel. It is fair to say the Gunners are in better shape now.

But they lack a cutting edge and on an infuriating afternoon for their fans, chances came and went.

Emile Smith Rowe was denied by Pope’s outstretched legs and Alex Lacazette goalbound effort from the rebound was blocked by Ben Mee.

Bukayo Saka bent his shot just wide of the far post, while Martin Odegaard’s free-kick had the right shape but too much altitude. The Gunners’ best chance came midway through the second period, Lacazette (top) stabbing narrowly wide after Smith Rowe’s electrifying burst into the box.

Not only did Arsenal fail to win it – they nearly managed to lose.

Dwight McNeil’s breakaway in added time stretched the Gunners, who were relieved when he fired narrowly over top.

Arsenal are off to Dubai for a sunshine training camp and keeper Aaron Ramsdale admitted: “We didn’t create that quality we needed.

“I don’t want to make any excuses, but we are depleted at the moment and some lads have played a lot of minutes.

“We have time to regroup now.”