Eduardo shines as Arsenal go through

The Gunners were grateful to Croatian striker Eduardo who scored the first and made the second for Nicklas Bendtner.

Their opponents from the mid-table of the Coca-Cola Championship deserved to come off the field with their heads held high - it was not until Kyle Lafferty had been dismissed for a studs-up challenge midway through the second half that their challenge ended.

In the ninth minute Eduardo cemented his reputation as one of the coolest finishers in the game with another clinical strike to make it six goals in his last four games.

The Brazilian-born Croatian seized on to a chipped pass over the top by Kolo Toure and held off Steven Caldwell before slipping the ball neatly past Gabor Kiraly.

The Championship side responded with some accomplished and attractive attacking play. First Andy Gray managed a shot on target that Bacary Sagna's block took the sting out of, then Robbie Blake fired just over from a right angle.

In the second half, Eduardo's finishing powers for once let him down. He and Bendtner combined excellently and a one-two saw the Croatian through on goal again but this time he put the ball the wrong side of the post - and kept Burnley's hopes alive.

Chris McCann floated a header too high as the Clarets tried to break through, then their task became mountainous when Lafferty was sent off for sliding in on Gilberto with his studs up.

Burnley continued to give it a go right to the final whistle but with 15 minutes left Bendtner delivered the knockout blow.

Eduardo was the creator this time with a perfect pass down the middle allowing the Dane to take the ball around Kiraly and fire home.