Matt Lowton nearly ended his season on a real high - with a first goal in more than three years in Burnley’s defeat to Arsenal. 

The right back had an excellent chance to end his drought on Sunday, bombing on to get on the end of a cross and round stranded Gunners’ ‘keeper Bernd Leno only to see his shot into an unguarded net blocked by Shkodran Mustafi. 

Unai Emery’s men went on to win the game 3-1, Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang scoring twice to take a share of the Premier League Golden Boot prize with Liverpool duo Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane.  

Lowton’s opportunity late in the first half on Saturday saw him come close to being on target 40 months to the day since scoring his only Burnley goal in a 5-0 Championship win at MK Dons on January 12, 2016. 

Lancashire Telegraph: Matt Lowton celebrates his goal against MK Dons in 2016Matt Lowton celebrates his goal against MK Dons in 2016

“I played it down the line and carried my run and in the end it’s a good block,” the 29-year-old said. 

“I probably should do better looking back but, I haven’t scored for three years and that probably shows why I haven’t!”

The game saw the two sides go toe-to-toe despite relatively little being on the line, the Clarets coming home in 15th after a fine revival in 2019 while Arsenal were warming up for their Europa League final against Chelsea. 

“We wanted to finish well, we didn’t just want to go out quietly on the last game of the season and we wanted to play well,” said Lowton, named man of the match for an impressive display in both defence and attack. 

“That’s the way we work and the way the manager works. 

“Every detail, every day, every hour he’s right on it. 

“We didn’t want it to be just another end of season game and I thought we gave a great account of ourselves.  

“It’s nice to get man of the match but the result puts a bit of a downer on it.”

Overall the full back felt the Clarets could have taken something from the game. 

After chances came and went for both sides in the opening half, Aubameyang scored twice in 11 minutes before Ashley Barnes pulled a goal back with his 13th of the season. 

Eddie Nketiah made sure of the three points for the visitors by scoring with the last kick of the game, his strike deflecting in off Clarets ‘keeper Tom Heaton with 94 minutes on the clock. 

“I think we were unfortunate not to get something,” Lowton said. 

“We started brightly and got in behind a few times and hit the post and had a great chance myself but unfortunately we didn’t take them and they did and that’s been our downfall.”

Lowton finished the season with a 24th appearance having battled with Phil Bardsley for a starting spot over the course of the campaign.