We rate the players in the game between Arsenal and Burnley at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

By Abhishek Mehrotra

Arsenal

Manuel Almunia - 6

Enjoyed a good game. Got in solidly behind balls and commandeered his defence very well.

Thomas Vermaelen - 6.5

Kept Nugent quiet for most of the game except on one occasion when a collective brain-freeze from him and Silvestre allowed the striker to get in between them.

Mikel Silvestre - 6.5

Was dominant in the air and cleared his lines well from set-pieces. Shared equal blame with Vermaelen for Burnley's goal.

Emmanuel Eboue - 5.5

Was not as influential a figure at right back but did display some neat touches to set Fabregas and Walcott through on goal. Never really had any defensive problems as Burnley were on the back-foot most of the time.

Gael Clichy - 6.5

Did some sterling attacking work by pumping in crosses from the left. Did not waste too much time dithering on the ball - usually crossing it at the first time of asking.

Denilson - 4

Was caught napping at times when Burnley threatened on the counter. Pulled out of some 50-50 challenges and left the mopping up work to be done by his backline.

Samir Nasri - 6.5

Was shut out down the left by Mears but showed his versatility by cutting into the centre and linking up well with Rosicky and Fabregas. His chip over the Burnley defence and into the feet of Fabregas was a thing of beauty.

Cesc Fabregas - 8

Pulled all the strings - as is his wont - as long as he was on the field. Made his mark with a neat finish before being forced off with injury.

Thomas Rosicky - 6

Was very lively in midfield and played his part in Arsenal's domination. Did display a strange reluctance to move into the box when Arsenal were in possession.

Theo Walcott - 8

Got in behind Fox throughout the match. His crossing in the first half was quite poor but the diminutive England man improved by leaps and bounds in the second. But for a astonishingly poor Nicklas Bendtner, he would have had at least three assists. Finally decided to do it all on his own by cutting in and placing a sweet, sweet left footed strike past Jensen.

Nicklas Bendtner - 0

Aaron Ramsey with his shattered leg would have done a better job in front of goal. Stephen Hawkings would have done better in front of goal. Walcott proposed time and again, Bendtner refused to dispose time and again. Any other striker worth his salt would have scored at least a hat-trick within the first 55 minutes but Bendtner was absolutely catastropic on the day.

Substitutes

Abou Diaby - 5.5

Showed good strength in midfield to win possession for the Gunners. Loped forward on occasion and added to Arsenal's aerial threat.

Eduardo - 3

Another striker who was wasteful in front of goal.

Andrei Arshavin - 4

Did not make much of an impact until a faboulous strike deep into injury time which made the game safe for the Gunners.

Burnley

Brian Jensen - 7.5

Was brave in the face of waves of Arsenal attacks. Came out time and again to smother through balls and saved a stinger from Walcott. One could argue that he should have run in to collect the ball to prevent the Gunner's first goal but overall the big man had a very good outing.

Leon Cort - 3

Had a horror first half as Arsenal tore Burnley apart down the right. Left large gaps between himself and left-back Daniel Fox which allowed both Walcott and Eboue to run in sling crosses into the Burnley box.

Clarke Carlisle - 5.5

Was supposed to be the weakest link in the Burnley defence - but turned out to be the most dependable. Kept Bendtner quiet - not allowing the Dane too many chances to shoot. Of course, he was helped by the fact that the striker was in pathetic form on the day.

Daniel Fox - 3

Was given a tough time by Eboue and Walcott. Could not cut out Fabregas' through balls on the ground and in the air Frequently found himself chasing players who had managed to drift in behind him.Played too narrow on occasion which made Walcott's life a lot easier.

Tyrone Mears - 6

Kept close tabs on Samir Nasri and made sure Arsenal were forced to switch flanks in order to keep their attacks going.

Kevin McDonald - 3.5

Arsenal ran all over in midfield. McDonald was wasteful in possession and played a part in breaking down whatever few attacks Burnley could mount.

Graham Alexander - 4

Should have been marking Fabregas better for the first goal. Was given the run-around by the captain until the latter was forced off with a injury. Alexander was disappointing in midfield and was left chasing the ball for most of the game.

Jack Cork - 3.5

Did not see much of the ball but whenever he did - was not on the wavelength with Nugent. Denilson did a decent job of keeping him quiet - and Cork did not have enough quality to pop open the Gunners defence.

Chris Eagles - 4

Clichy did well to snuff out any threat when Eagles had the ball

Martin Paterson - 6.5

Was the best Burnley player of the night. Tracked backed every time Arsenal threatened to make some crucial blocks. His most telling contribution was when he took the ball off Nicklas Bendtner's foot jus as the striker was shaping to unleash a thunderbolt. Also the most threatening of the visiting team.

David Nugent - 5.5

Was isolated on his own up front and never really got into the game. However, he made the most of the only chance he got - getting in between the two centre-backs and lobbing a perfectly weighted ball over Almunia.

Substitutes

Wade Elliot - 6

Came in for McDonald and offered Burnley a very good attacking option. Roamed on both sides of the midfield and fed Nugent with some good balls.

Andre Bikey - 4

Was largely anonymous for the time he was on the pitch.

Steve Thomson - n.a