MATCH REPORT: BURNLEY 0 – 5 ARSENAL

Arsenal take the points in Lancashire

A windy Turf Moor played host to Premier League action on Saturday afternoon with a visit from second in the table Arsenal, who continued their high-flying form.

Vincent Kompany, who was carrying out a touchline ban at the fixture, named an unchanged team from last Saturday’s defeat at Anfield. The bench did see changes though with Charlie Taylor and Johann Berg Gudmundsson named in place of Han-Noah Massengo and Hjalmar Ekdal.

The Gunners inflicted an early blow taking the lead within the first five minutes through skipper Odegaard, who fired past Trafford from the edge of the area.

The first yellow card of the game then went Burnley’s way when Aaron Ramsey came together with Saka, which landed the midfielder in the referee’s book.

Trafford made an excellent save to deny Trossard increasing the visitors lead when he got down low to his left to keep out the Belgian’s effort.

The Clarets did well to defend consecutive corners against the Gunners who have scored sixteen goals from set-pieces in the league this season.

Odobert made some positive driving runs but the Arsenal backline stuck to their task and denied any goalscoring opportunities.

With fifteen minutes of the half to go, Berge made a brilliant block from a Saka ball that was heading into a dangerous area as Arteta’s side pushed for a second.

Fofana received a rapturous applause from the Burnley crowd when he did well to keep possession under pressure but his positive run ended in a goal kick.

On the 38th minute mark the referee blew for a penalty when Trossard went down in the box following a clash with Assignon, with the Frenchman picking up a yellow for the challenge. As the rain started to fall, Saka stepped up and despite Trafford going the right way Arsenal’s number 7 found the back of the net.

Three additional minutes were added onto the first-half and two minutes in, a foul by Saka on Esteve saw the Arsenal man pick up a yellow for kicking the ball away after being penalised for the foul.

The half ended 2-0 with Arteta’s side giving the Clarets plenty to think about ahead of the second 45.

The second half brought about change for the home side, with Gudmundsson replacing Amdouni.

Arsenal were quick out of the blocks though when Saka received a well weighted pass from Odegaard and fired his shot up and over Trafford in goal just two minutes after the restart.

Later Kiwior committed a foul on Gudmundsson but the resulting free-kick didn’t trouble the visitors.

There was a break in play when Aaron Ramsey required medical treatment following a coming together with Odegaard. The Burnley midfielder was withdrawn on a stretcher and replaced by Jay Rodriguez, with Esteve also making way for a returning Charlie Taylor.

Arsenal kept coming in their hunt for more goals. In the 64th minute Trossard sent a curling effort goalward which narrowly missed the target, however a minute later the ball fell kindly to him in the area and his left footed effort nestled into the bottom corner.

A triple change for the Gunners saw Eddie Nketiah, Cedric Soares and Reiss Nelson enter the action in place of two of the goal scorers Saka and Trossard and Ben White.

With the wet playing surface adding additional challenges as the rain poured, Burnley pushed winning a corner in the 75th minute but Arsenal shepherded the ball out of danger and away from Raya.

Full of confidence, Havertz was putting pressure on the Clarets backline, he flew goalward and made it 5 in front of the travelling fans.

Both sides made further changes at this stage, with Assignon and Odobert making way for Vitinho and Bruun Larsen. While Arsenal made a switch with Jorginho taking the place of Rice in midfield.

In his final change of the afternoon, Arteta brought on Smith Rowe to replace Havertz.

Forward Fofana managed to get a shot away two minutes before the 90 but Gabriel got a foot to it to send it into the side netting.

Ten minutes additional time were added, which saw Trafford beat an Odegaard free-kick away and Clarets captain Josh Brownhill arrowed a powerful effort just wide of the post.

The final whistle went with the Gunners taking the three points back to the capital in a difficult afternoon for Burnley on home turf.

Burnley: Trafford, O’Shea, Brownhill, Berge, Assignon (Vitinho 79), Ramsey (Rodriguez 61), Fofana, Amdouni (Gudmundsson 46), Esteve (Taylor 61), Delcroix, Odobert (Bruun Larsen 80)

Unused substitutes: Muric, Cork, Benson, Cullen

Arsenal: Raya, Saliba, White (Soares 69), Magalhaes, Saka (Nelson 69), Odegaard, Martinelli, Kiwior, Trossard (Nketiah 69), Havertz (Smith Rowe 83), Rice (Jorginho 79)

Unused substitutes: Ramsdale, Elneny, Bandeira, Sweet

Goals: Odegaard 4′, Saka 41′ + 47′, Trossard 66′, Havertz 78′