Aubameyang double gets Arsenal back on winning track against Burnley

It was difficult to ignore the Mesut Özil return. Arsenal’s supposed marque player was back – given his first start since 11 November after a back problem and his high-profile omission for tactical reasons against Tottenham in the Carabao Cup last Wednesday – and he was central to two of Arsenal’s goals, even if he was peripheral for long spells.

This was Özil in microcosm. Given the captain’s armband by Unai Emery, he was frequently buffeted by a strong-arm Burnley team and largely unable to impose his passing rhythms. But he popped up early with a glorious pass that helped to make Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s first goal of the day and late on, too, with an assist for the substitute, Alex Iwobi.

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