Eduardo and Nicklas Bendtner scored either side of half-time as Arsenal reached the fourth round of the FA Cup with a 2-0 victory at Burnley.

Eduardo's ninth minute strike - his sixth goal in his last four games - put the Gunners on course for a place in the last 32 and he then set-up his Danish strike partner for a second 15 minutes from time.

The hosts by then were down to ten men after Kyle Lafferty's straight red card on the hour and the result ensured that Arsene Wenger would maintain his proud record of never losing a FA Cup tie to lower league opposition.

But Burnley didn't play like a side who have only won twice at Turf Moor this season and missed a number of chances in the opening period.

They came close to an early goal when Lafferty's header hit the crossbar after just six minutes. Andy Gray latched onto a ball down the right channel and his cross to the back post was met by the Northern Ireland international whose effort rattled against the woodwork with Jens Lehmann beaten.

But just three minutes later the hosts were behind as Kolo Toure chipped a ball down the middle to Brazilian-Croat striker Eduardo who burst away from the labouring debutant Stanislav Varga before calmly tucking the ball past Gabor Kiraly.

Robbie Blake should have done better when Philippe Senderos made a complete hash of an attempted clearance which allowed the veteran a clear sight at goal but his shot was well over Lehmann's crossbar.

And he almost paid for that miss when Armand Traore's cross was needlessly put behind for a corner by Jon Harley and from the resulting delivery by Denilson, Gilberto Silva's header deflected off the former Chelsea left-back and was cleared off the line by James O'Connor.

But the Championship side continued to press and a catastrophic error from young full-back Traore, who got a deep cross from the left caught under his feet at the back post, allowed Wade Elliott to nip in and he pulled the ball back to Chris McCann but his shot was again way over the top.

After the break, superb combination play from Bendtner and Eduardo opened up the Burnley defence but this time, the Croat curled his shot narrowly past the post before a clear header from McCann went over the crossbar.

Owen Coyle's side men were incensed when Alan Wiley issued a straight red to Lafferty after he went over the top of the ball on Gilberto.

The wideman had lost possession and lunged in but maybe could feel slightly aggrieved as he did make some contact with the top of the ball before contact with the Brazilian's shin.

The Lancashire side refused to lie down despite their numerical disadvantage and a crucial touch by Senderos was needed to prevent a wonderful cross from the right by Elliott offering Gray a simple tap-in.

But their hopes vanished when a superb through ball by Eduardo sliced open the home defence and Bendtner calmly rounded the keeper and slotted home.

Lee Walker / Eurosport