ARSENAL eased past the Clarets to gain revenge for their Carling Cup defeat and book their place in the FA Cup quarter finals.

The Gunners showed Owen Coyle's men the utmost respect by fielding a strong line-up for the delayed fifth round tie.

And sublime finishes in each half from Carlos Vela and Eduardo, followed by a late Emmanuel Eboue strike, proved enough to see off Owen Coyle's spirited side.

Wade Elliott tackles Theo Walcott

Chances were at a real premium throughout for the Clarets, who came closest through a Steven Caldwell header against the bar in the final five minutes.

But despite a gritty defensive display, marshalled superbly by Caldwell, and the mesmeric Robbie Blake pulling the strings, this was ultimately one Premier League bridge too far for Coyle's cup giant killers.

Joey Gudjonsson was promoted to the starting line-up as an extra midfield shield, following Michael Duff's omission through suspension.

And with 5,188 Clarets fans making the way from Lancashire to turn this magnificent stadium into a cacophony of noise, this was always going to be a day to live long in the memory, whatever the outcome.

"2-0 to the Burnley," sang those fans as Owen Coyle's men kicked off in search of a cup double against Arsene Wenger's side!

And Kevin McDonald, who instigated a break in the fifth minute, was unlucky not to be rewarded following a one-two with Martin Paterson.

Caldwell's magnificent tackle soon denied Emmanuel Eboue as Arsenal tried to get in their stride.

Gudjonsson might have released Paterson on the quarter hour mark as the Clarets broke quickly from their own half, but the Icelander delayed his pass far too long instead of sending the Northern Ireland striker through one on one with the last defender and the chance was gone.

It was a fantastic start from the visitors, who have shown already this season they are no great respecters of reputation.

But out of the blue, the Gunners struck in the 25th minute.

Clarets winger Chris Eagles mis-controlled Graham Alexander's pass on the half way line and Andrey Arshavin immediately released Vela, who finished with real aplomb following a darting run, despite Gudjonsson's attempts at halting the Mexican.

It was now Arsenal strutting their stuff and Clarke Carlisle tracked Vela's clever run to deny the striker a second eight minutes before the break.

And two minutes later Caldwell followed suit with another fantastic lunge to deny Eduardo.

Burnley forced their first corner in the 43rd minute. But it almost brought the equaliser.

An inadvertent near post flick was turned goalwards by Paterson, only for Bacary Sagna to hack the ball clear inside the six-yard box.

And the half ended with Jensen saving well from Eboue following a typically sweet passing move from the hosts.

There were no changes at the break, with the Clarets surely looking to keep it tight before throwing men forward as the half wore on.

But that plan was scuppered in the 51st minute when Eduardo bagged a sublime volley with the outside of his left foot, timing his run to perfection to meet Keiran Gibbs' delightful angled chip into the box.

Eduardo: fantastic finish

Paterson was inches away from halving the deficit moments later, curling the ball wide of Lucasz Fabianski's left hand post as Coyle was planning to make his first substitution; Wade Elliott replacing Eagles.

Gudjonsson soon made way for targetman Steven Thompson as the hour mark approached.

And the two subs were involved in the best Burnley move of the game 25 minutes from time.

Eduardo had just missed the target with a free header from 10 yards as the Clarets broke through Thompson and Kalvenes. 

Eventually the ball reached Blake and his clever cross was just behind Elliott, who stretched but could not wrap his foot around the ball at the far post.

However, Burnley were now playing their best football of the afternoon and only the final ball was missing to cap some superb approach play.

The stage, however, was set for Theo Walcott to make his first appearance since suffering a shoulder injury in November - and the young England striker was given a rapturous welcome as he returned in the 71st minute.

He was soon followed by Burnley's own 'pocket rocket', Alex McDonald, who got a 15 minute run out to remember as a replacement for namesake Kevin.

Walcott thought his big moment had arrived in the 77th minute when he found himself one-v-one with Jensen.

But not for the first time the Dane was a sizeable barrier, spreading himself to make the save with his legs.

However, Jensen had no chance in the 84th minute when Song's back heel released Eboue, who drilled the ball into the bottom corner on the run.

Those thousands of fans who made the trip to the capital were almost rewarded with a consolation goal in the 85th minute, when Caldwell's thumping header smacked the bar from Blake's corner.

And McCann was denied a penalty in the closing moments when Johan Djourou clearly impeded his run into the box. 

But there is no shame in a defeat to in-form Arsenal and Burnley could still be proud as the final chapter closed on their amazing cup exploits this season.

Now, for the Championship challenge that lies ahead!

BURNLEY: Jensen, Alexander, Caldwell, Carlisle, Kalvenes, McDonald (A MacDonald 75), McCann, Gudjonsson (Thompson 58), Paterson, Eagles (Elliott 54), Blake.
Subs: Penny, Jordan, Mahon, Rodriguez

Booked: McDonald 49

ARSENAL: Fabianski, Diaby (Ramsey 71), Sagna, Eduardo (Walcott 71), Gallas, Vela (Van Persie 60), Song, Djourou, Arshavin, Eboue, Gibbs.
Subs: Almunia, Clichy, Bendtner, Bischoff.

Ref: C Foy

Att: 57,454