Burnley 0-5 Arsenal: This is a very good team

Match report – Player ratings – Arteta reaction – Video

After giving West Ham six of the perfect final week, Arsenal put in a 5 star efficiency within the rain and shine of Burnley yesterday.

With solely Emile Smith Rowe again within the squad from our assortment of injured gamers, it wasn’t a shock that Mikel Arteta named an unchanged workforce. They have been excellent in opposition to the Hammers, and yesterday it took simply 5 minutes to place their stamp on the sport. Gabriel Martinelli obtained down the left hand aspect, performed it throughout the field to Martin Odegaard, and the skipper’s half-volleyed end into the underside nook was hit with the form of energy and precision that made it unstoppable.

It had appeared that within the opening couple of minutes Burnley’s plan was to match Arsenal’s high quality with some physicality, however that light fairly shortly. We had moments, when Leandro Trossard went via for instance, and Martinelli prompted his full-back some issues, however the hazard we prompted them didn’t fairly flip into clear probabilities. Trossard had a recent air shot in entrance of objective when he ought to have made it 2-0, and shortly afterwards received a penalty after being performed in behind by Kai Havertz whose motion prompted Burnley issues all afternoon. There’s not numerous contact, however it’s a careless lunge from the defender.

Odegaard stepped up, put the ball down, and Bukayo Saka stepped as much as take his second penalty in successive video games. James Trafford went the proper means, and whilst you wouldn’t precisely say it was a mistake from the keeper, I’d say he was a bit annoyed with himself that he didn’t hold it out. That made it 2-0 on the break, and I don’t suppose it was something lower than Arsenal deserved based mostly on the efficiency.

If Burnley’s half-time workforce discuss was about protecting it tight early on and seeing if they may nick a objective to get again into the sport, we put a fork in that fairly shortly. Havertz discovered Odegaard, he performed it to Saka and also you virtually might see the defender pondering ‘I can’t let him reduce on his favoured left foot’. A part of what makes him so particular is his skill (and willingness) to make use of his proper foot, and he rifled the ball into the roof of the web to make it 3-0. A superb end to just about seal the sport at that time.

There was a protracted stoppage when Burnley’s Aaron Ramsey landed awkwardly after a problem from Odegaard. The TV replays confirmed his knee buckle as he landed, and he wanted oxygen earlier than being stretchered off. If that was an Arsenal participant we’d all be fearing the worst this morning, so let’s hope it not as severe because it seems (however a speedy restoration whether it is).

There then adopted an virtually comical sequence of Trossard lacking likelihood after likelihood. Martinelli bursting via, getting tackled, then someway offering an assist-worthy cross whereas on his arse was fairly one thing – not least as a result of the Belgian squirted the ball past the put up when it regarded simpler to attain. Finally he discovered his vary, the ball coming to him off a defender after we’d prompted the Burnley defence issues, and he made no mistake for 4-0.

Successful video games in addition to that is clearly numerous enjoyable, however one of many different advantages (apart from actually bettering objective distinction) is it offers the supervisor the power to make adjustments. Quite than asking the likes of Saka and Rice to offer 110% for 90+ minutes, we will save their legs a bit and provides an opportunity to some others. I don’t suppose any of the subs have been significantly spectacular or something, however with the Champions League beginning up once more, protecting gas within the tank of our greatest gamers is basically necessary.

The fifth got here from a protracted throw by Jakub Kiwior, who had one other spectacular day at left-back and appears much more settled now. He despatched Havertz down the left, and the German minimize into the field, nutmegged a defender, and completed along with his proper foot. I used to be pleased for him to make that contribution, as a result of I believe his total efficiency deserved it. He was concerned in numerous what we did effectively yesterday, the interchanging of him and Trossard is a tactical growth that groups haven’t fairly found out but, and it was only a beautiful objective to place the icing on the cake.

Afterwards, Mikel Arteta stated:

I’m actually pleased clearly with the efficiency and the consequence, with the person and collective as effectively. The contribution of each single participant has been very, excellent and the truth that the workforce regarded prefer it needed extra. They weren’t glad, they needed to attain extra and didn’t wish to concede a objective, so I’m actually happy to see that consistency.

It’s exhausting to select people on a day when so many performed effectively, however I’ve to offer a nod to Odegaard whose type of late has been very good. Earlier within the season it felt like he was simply taking a contact too many at occasions. Now the ball goes the place it wants to precisely on time, and his skill to squeeze the ball into areas is excellent. No participant has made extra passes into the penalty space this season (not together with set-pieces), and he feels elementary to how this workforce clicks. He’s not alone, clearly, just about everyone seems to be taking part in effectively proper now, however he – together with Saka – simply have one thing a bit additional that we’re going to wish if we’re gonna go the space on this title race.

Because the Dubai journey, Arsenal have performed 5, received 5, scored 21, conceded 2, and after yesterday sit 2 factors forward of Man Metropolis with our objective distinction 5 higher than theirs. There’s lots nonetheless to do, clearly, however it’s been an impressive response to that run of poor type, which I all the time thought was anomalous to what we’d seen from this workforce till then. I believe it’s secure to say now although that we’ve gone up a stage, and protecting this sort of consistency between now and Could would be the goal. Whether or not we will do it or not we’ll have to attend and see, however there’s no query it is a very, excellent Arsenal aspect, and one we must always get pleasure from as a lot as potential.

So, for the gamers and the supervisor, it’s a query of ‘job finished’, placing this one behind them, and turning the main target utterly to the midweek journey to Porto. As followers we will get pleasure from it a bit longer, in fact, and you may be a part of James and I for an Arsecast Further tomorrow to relive all of it once more.

For now, have an important Sunday of us.