Arsenal demolished Burnley 5-0 at Turf Moor on Saturday as Mikel Arteta’s side won their fifth-straight Premier League game to start 2024.
It is the first time this season Arsenal have won five straight in the league and the Gunners are peaking at exactly the right time as they’ve scored 21 goals across those wins.
This also marked the first time in Arsenal’s history that they have scored five or more goals in back-to-back league games. They’re on fire.
Martin Odegaard set the tone with an early stunner, then Bukayo Saka scored either side of half time to put the result beyond doubt. Leandro Trossard and Kai Havertz both scored in the second half to add extra gloss to the scoreline.
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The win means Arsenal remain just two points behind leaders Liverpool in the title race, as they’re now on 55 points. Burnley remain on 13 points and in deep trouble in the relegation zone.
Gunners have found their ruthless streak
Arsenal have won five in a row but it’s the way they’re winning games which is most impressive. Especially at this time of the season. They’ve smashed five past Crystal Palace, three past Liverpool, six past West Ham and five past Burnley. The Gunners are a juggernaut and Arsenal are winning games with minimum fuss and have the luxury of resting their key players late in games because they’re so comfortable. The scary thing is Arsenal are missing some big players too (Gabriel Jesus, Thomas Partey, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Jurrien Timber and Oleksandr Zinchenko) and they could have scored even more across this impressive run of wins. For most of this season Arsenal were more solid defensively but a little more sluggish in attack than they were last season. Not anymore. Saka, Odegaard, Trossard and Havertz have clicked and are ripping teams apart and Declan Rice has given them the perfect base to win games. Arsenal are full of confidence and heading into the Champions League last 16 and a pivotal run of games between now and the end of March they look unstoppable. At this stage last season Arsenal’s title charge started to falter. This year this is when their title charge is in full flow. That’s because their ruthless streak has arrived at the perfect time.
Burnley vs Arsenal player ratings
Via our friends at FotMob.com you can see it was yet another game where Havertz, Odegaard, Saka and Trossard dazzled in attack. Arsenal had total control as their defensive unit was hardly bothered.
What’s next?
Burnley head to Crystal Palace on Saturday, Feb. 24, while Arsenal head to FC Porto for the first leg of their UEFA Champions League last 16 tie on Wednesday, Feb. 21. They then host Newcastle on Saturday, Feb. 24.
How to watch Burnley vs Arsenal live, stream link and start time
Kick off: 10am ET Saturday
TV Channel: USA Network
Online: Online via NBC.com
Burnley vs Arsenal live updates! - By Joe Prince-Wright
Burnley vs Arsenal final score: 0-5
Odegaard 4', Saka 41', 47', Trossard 66', Havertz 78'
Full time: Burnley 0-5 Arsenal
Total domination from Arsenal as their attacking players put on a clinic and they could have won by more. Burnley never had a chance.
Havertz gets in on the act - Burnley 0-5 Arsenal (78th minute)
A long throw down the line finds Havertz and he cuts inside his man and then finishes. Way too easy for Arsenal.
It is 4-0 to Arsenal now as Trossard curls home - Burnley 0-4 Arsenal (66th minute)
Kiwior crosses and it finds Havertz who can’t control but the ball falls to Trossard who curls home a beauty.
Should be 4-0 to Arsenal
Martinelli wins the ball back and then slips with Trossard and Saka to his right. Martinelli then somehow flicks the ball on to Trossard while he’s on the floor but the Belgian forward prods his effort wide.
Lengthy delay here as Aaron Ramsey is down
Really worrying moment for Burnley’s young midfielder Aaron Ramsey. He went down with Odegaard nearby and is receiving lengthy treatment on the pitch. Looks like a really bad one for Ramsey who has been given oxygen as he’s carried off the pitch.
Saka scores early in the second half - Burnley 0-3 Arsenal (47th minute)
After Odegaard plays in Saka, he shifts the ball to his right foot and smashes home at the near post. What a finish. Arsenal are well on their way to securing another big win.
Half time: Burnley 0-2 Arsenal
The Gunners are absolutely cruising. Odegaard’s early strike set them on their way and Saka slotted home a penalty kick to double their lead. Ruthless from Arsenal who have totally controlled the game.
Saka slots home a second - Burnley 0-2 Arsenal (41st minute)
Bukayo Saka steps up and slots the ball into the bottom corner. It wasn’t the most convincing penalty kick you’ll ever see but he just beat James Trafford. 2-0 and Arsenal cruising.
Penalty to Arsenal as Trossard taken down by Assignon
That is a clear penalty. Havertz is played in and finds Trossard in the box but Assignon slides in and gives away the penalty kick. Saka is stepping up...
Sustained pressure from Arsenal
Corners are being whipped in and Arsenal are really putting Burnley under pressure. The Clarets are trying to get on the ball and Odobert smashes a shot on goal which Raya pushes away. At the other end Saka crosses for Havertz but Burnley clear for a corner, then another cross comes in but Trossard totally misses the ball. A glorious chance for Arsenal to make it 2-0.
Trafford denies Trossard but the offside flag went up
A ball over the top finds Trossard and he is clean through on goal but Trafford grabs the ball just as the Belgian forward tries to skip around him. The offside flag went up after but if Trossard scored that it would have been very tight.
Odegaard smashes home early - Burnley 0-1 Arsenal (4th minute)
What a start for Arsenal. They attack down the left and a brilliant cross from Martinelli finds Odegaard on the edge of the box and he smashes home a low shot. Pure class.
Burnley lineup
Trafford; Assignon, O’Shea, Esteve, Delcroix; Ramsey, Berge, Brownhill, Odobert; Fofana, Amdouni
Arsenal lineup
Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Kiwior; Rice, Odegaard, Trossard; Saka, Havertz, Martinelli
Burnley focus, team news
The Clarets are scrapping away but time is running out. January loan signing David Datro-Fofana has been excellent since he arrived and has provided a focal point for Burnley to sustain attacks. Will it be enough to keep them up? They aren’t expected to get anything at home against Arsenal but Burnley have key games against Palace, Bournemouth, Brentford and West Ham coming up after this. Three wins from those four and they’re back in with a chance of staying up.
OUT: Nathan Redmond (hamstring), Luca Koleosho (knee), Jordan Beyer (thigh), Lyle Foster (undisclosed) | QUESTIONABLE: Charlie Taylor (shoulder)
Arsenal focus, team news
The only thing that isn’t positive for Arteta right now is plenty of players out injured. The good news is that the likes of Jesus, Tomiyasu, Zinchenko and Smith Rowe could be back for this game and with the Champions League knockout rounds kicking off for Arsenal next week they need their squad depth to challenge on two fronts. In attack Trossard has been a revelation in multiple roles, while Havertz is also having a big impact. The stars are Saka, Odegaard and Rice, while Arsenal are so dangerous from set-pieces and will look to target young goalkeeper James Trafford.
OUT: Jurrien Timber (torn ACL) | QUESTIONABLE: Gabriel Jesus (knee), Oleksandr Zinchenko (calf), Takehiro Tomiyasu (undisclosed), Thomas Partey (thigh), Emile Smith Rowe (ankle), Fabio Vieira (groin)