Ashley Barnes admitted he was left confused by his clash with Bernd Leno in Burnley’s final-day defeat to Arsenal. 

The Clarets striker was booked for the 10th time this season against the Gunners in the first half. 

Leno collected the ball and raced to the edge of his area, clattering into Barnes with the Burnley man carded by Mike Dean for a perceived obstruction. 

The frontman was less than impressed on a day where Arsenal were far from comfortable dealing with the physical threat posed by Sean Dyche’s side. 

“I don’t know really,” said Barnes. 

“He has smashed me and I don’t know how I have got that booking.

“The referee has bought into it and then he was on me all game and didn’t give me a thing but that is one of those things. 

“Luckily enough we are safe and it didn’t mean anything otherwise there would have been an uproar.”

The 3-1 reverse, Barnes on target with his 13th goal of the season in his all competitions, meant the Clarets finished 15th in the table. 

Their top flight status had been under threat at one point but Dyche’s side staged an impressive recovery in 2019 to secure a fourth straight season in the Premier League with time to spare. 

“It is a fantastic season looking back at it now,” he added.

“To only have 12 points at Christmas and to then come away with staying in the league, and not just staying in the league but staying in the league a few weeks ago, means it was a pleasing season. 

“It is a massive achievement and is fantastic from us. 

“So to get to where we have is a huge credit to all the lads because we dug deep and got out of it.”

Barnes’ second-half header against the Gunners took him level with Chris Wood at the top of Burnley’s goalscoring charts in both league and cup, the former having one more Premier League goal. 

The 29-year-old’s strong season leading the line included a run of four goals in four games in January and February.