BURNLEY took an early lead, but couldn't eclipse the efforts of the first team by knocking Arsenal out of the FA Youth Cup.

In a third round tie that mirrored that of the FA Cup proper, the Clarets stunned the young Gunners with Adam Kay's early penalty.

But Arsenal, inspired by hat-trick hero Henri Lansbury, recovered to earn their place in the next round in emphatic fashion.

Burnley got a dream start when they were awarded a penalty for Gavin Hoyte's handball inside two minutes, and Kay stroked it home confidently from the spot.

The Clarets continued to press, but came unstuck in the 14th minute when goalkeeper Daniel MacDonald fumbled a left-wing cross. Heavy rainfall during the week had turned the central strip of the pitch into a mudbath and the ball stopped dead where it landed. Wide man Lansbury, who Arsene Wenger named on the bench for last weekend's FA Cup clash at Turf Moor, pounced on the loose ball and turned it past central defender Chris Lynch on the line.

That bit of luck was all Arsenal needed to flick a switch and show their finesse, and they went in front midway through the first half when Mark Randall looped Kieran Gibbs's deep cross from the right beyond MacDonald.

Randall then hit the crossbar with a towering header.

But Arsenal increased their lead just before the break. Lynch looked to have done enough when he sprinted back to make an excellent block on Gibbs.

The rebound sat up nicely for the wide man though, and he took advantage of an empty net from a tight angle.

The Gunners had appeals for a penalty turned down a minute into the second half after Lynch felled Lansbury, while MacDonald made an excellent save with his legs when Gibbs threatened to make it 4-1 as he skipped past Nik Kudiersky just inside the area. But Arsenal didn't have long to wait before putting the tie beyond doubt.

An excellent build-up was finished off in style when Randall clipped a sublime ball over from the left of the area for Lansbury at the far post to send a volley in-off Lynch.

The winger completed his hat-trick on 73 minutes, sending Lynch one way, then the other, before getting another deflection off the unlucky central defender to get the better of MacDonald.

BURNLEY (4-4-2): Daniel MacDonald; Stott, Kudiersky, Lynch, Bradley; Anderson ( Chagger 81), Harvey (Craggs 81), Kay, Alex MacDonald; Fletcher, Turner (Newman 67).

Subs not used: Brown, Hoskin ARSENAL (4-4-2): Szczesny; Ogogo, Rodgers, Hoyte (Bartley 79), Steer; Lansbury, Randall, Dunne, Gibbs (Thomas 74); Fonte, Watt (Sunu 79).

Subs not used: Shea, Cruise.

Att: 826.

l TEENAGE striker Jay Rodriguez has been loaned to Scottish First Division side Stirling Albion until the end of the season. He will continue to train with Burnley during the week and travel north of the border for matches.