Despite the 0-1 defeat to Arsenal, Mike Jackson was pleased with Burnley's fighting spirit.

Burnley lost 0-1 to Arsenal in the 37th round of the 2025/26 Premier League season, after conceding a goal in the first half. Mike Jackson said the team kept the game close and was pleased with the fighting spirit shown by the players.

Saka took a corner kick in the 36th minute, and Havertz jumped up and headed the ball into the net, giving Arsenal a 1-0 lead.

In the 66th minute of the second half, Havertz tackled Ugochuku while clearing the ball, and the referee showed Havertz a yellow card. After VAR intervention, the same decision was upheld.

Ultimately, Burnley, who had already been relegated, lost 0-1 to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.

Burnley interim manager Mike Jackson said, "I have to give a lot of credit to the players. We lost the game, but I told everyone in the locker room that I'm proud of them. They stuck to their tactical plan and kept the game suspenseful, which is very commendable."

“We were playing against a top team, but I think we made the whole stadium feel uneasy. We could have been dejected after being relegated, but I’m happy with our performance in this game and before that against Aston Villa.”

Mike Jackson also stated, "We were beaten by set pieces, and our opponents are world-class in that area. Arsenal's ability in set-piece tactics must be acknowledged, and we will review the game to see where we can do better."

Furthermore, when discussing the referee's decision regarding Arsenal striker Kai Havertz, Mike Jackson said, "I didn't see the specifics clearly at the time, but after reviewing the video, I believe that by today's standards, it should have been a red card. It wasn't a good move; it was dangerous and could have even caused injury to the player."

"This call could have given us extra motivation, so it's a shame. If it had been 11 against 10, the game might have gone very differently."

Image source: Internet