IF FA Cup ties were won on effort and commitment then Burnley would be in the fourth round draw.

But despite a tremendous performance - in which the Clarets took the game to Arsenal for long periods, even after going down to 10 men early in the second half - it just wasn't enough to prevent them slipping to a 2-0 defeat at Turf Moor.

Goals in either half from Eduardo and then Nicklas Bendtner - and the sending off of Burnley winger Kyle Lafferty just before the hour mark - were enough to give Arsene Wenger's Premiership leaders the win in a pulsating third round tie.

Lafferty sees red

Many neutrals probably feared the worst as the Clarets saw little of the ball in the opening exchanges as Arsenal took control of the game.

But despite their possession, a poor long range shot from Emmanuel Eboue was the only effort of note from the Premiership leaders.

Indeed, the Clarets came within a whisker of stunning the Gunners on six minutes when Lafferty's header from an Andy Gray cross cannoned back off the cross bar with Jens Lehmann well beaten.

However, on 10 minutes Burnley found themselves 1-0 down after Eduardo broke free, latched on to a great through ball from Kolo Toure and had the easiest of tasks just to slide the ball past Gabor Kiraly.

The blow of losing an early goal didn't rattle the Clarets though and it was Owen Coyle's side that looked the more dangerous going forward, with Arsenal beginning to struggle against waves of forward play.

Robbie Blake almost got the Clarets level on 19 minutes, but his shot from a tight angle flew well over Lehmann's goal, much to the relief of the German international and his defenders.

In a pulsating opening, the danger was always there from the Premiership leaders too and only a clearance off the line by James O'Connor from a corner on 21 minutes stopped the Clarets slipping two behind.

The expected gulf in class was never really evident and the otherwise impressive Armand Traore almost gifted the Clarets an equaliser on 38 minutes when he failed to deal with a cross from Lafferty.

The left back took too many touches, which allowed Wade Elliott to steal the ball and feed Chris McCann.

But the Irishman could only find the Gunners' fans in the Cricket Field Stand with his shot from 16 yards out.

Kiraly was a bystander for much of the first half, but he had to be alert to save a wonderful bicycle kick from Bendtner on 41 minutes as Arsenal looked to add to their lead.

Despite going in at half time 1-0 down, Coyle would have been delighted with his side's performance. The Clarets did more than enough to give Arsene Wenger food for thought - and even stepped up their game after the restart.

The Clarets had a lucky escape early on when Eduardo's calculations were astray and he curled a wonderful opening just wide from the edge of the box.

But Burnley then began to dig into their reserves in search of an equaliser and Chris McCann should have probably done better with an unmarked header on 55 minutes after Robbie Blake lofted in a free kick from 25 yards out.

There was more red card controversy in the 59th minute when Lafferty was shown a straight red card by Alan Wiley following a high challenge on Gilberto.

Television replays instantly showed that Lafferty's raised heel connected with the ball before catching the opponent.

And with the one-footed tackle not in the least reckless, Lafferty and his team mates could not believe the punishment from a perfectly placed referee.

Lafferty's red card leaves Burnley incensed

That perceived injustice spurred on the Clarets and Philippe Senderos had to be alert on 68 minutes when headed a superb cross from Wade Elliott straight off the head of Andy Gray as the former Sunderland striker looked odds on to score.

However, despite all their effort - much of the time pegging Arsenal back into their own half despite being a man short - the goal just would not come and the game was over on 75 minutes.

Eduardo threaded a ball behind debutant Stanislav Varga and Bendtner pounced to round Kiraly before slotting home to put the Gunners 2-0 up.

Arsenal showed their class by playing keep ball for much of the remaining minutes as the Clarets tried in vain to grab a late consolation that they certainly deserved for all their endeavour.

But it wasn't to be and the Clarets, who can be rightly proud of their performance against their more illustrious Premiership visitors, went out of the FA Cup with their heads held high.

Burnley: Kiraly, Alexander, Caldwell, Varga, Harley, Elliott, McCann, O'Connor (Gudjonsson 75), Lafferty, Blake (Jones 78), Gray (Akinbiyi 78).
Subs: Jensen, Gudjonsson, Akinbiyi, Jones, Jordan.

Booked: Caldwell 85

Sent off: Lafferty 59

Arsenal: Lehman, Diaby, Sagna, Toure, Senderos, Denilson, Gilberto, Eboue, Traore (Hoyte 71), Eduardo, Bendtner.
Subs: Djourou, Fabianski, Randall, Lansbury

Att: 16,709