“97 touches, 77 passes, 3 big chances created, 4 tackles and 6 duels won, he was everywhere against Burnley and the best player on the pitch and is getting back to his best”- Arsenal Legend Ian Wright praises Arsenal’s ‘engine room’ player who was simply amazing and deserves Man of the Match award – Not Declan Rice, not Havertz and not Saliba
“97 touches, 77 passes, 3 big chances created, 4 tackles and 6 duels won, he was everywhere against Burnley and the best player on the pitch and is getting back to his best”- Arsenal Legend Ian Wright praises Arsenal’s ‘engine room’ player who was simply amazing and deserves Man of the Match award – Not Declan Rice, not Havertz and not Saliba
In the ongoing quest for safety, Vincent Kompany’s Burnley faced a formidable challenge as they welcomed Arsenal to the iconic Turf Moor stadium. Historically, this fixture has been a tough one for the Clarets, who have struggled to notch victories against the Gunners, managing only one win in 17 Premier League encounters. On the flip side, Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal arrived in Lancashire with a surge of confidence, boasting an impressive record of 16 goals scored and a mere two conceded in the year 2024 thus far.
The lineups set the stage for what promised to be an intense battle:
**Burnley XI:** Trafford; Assignon, O’Shea, Estève, Delcroix; Ramsey, Berge, Brownhill, Odobert; Fofana, Amdouni
**Arsenal XI:** Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Kiwior; Rice, Ødegaard, Havertz; Saka, Trossard, Martinelli
From the opening whistle, both teams were eager to assert their dominance, but it was Arsenal who struck first blood with a clinical counter-attack within the first five minutes. Gabriel Martinelli’s precise pass found an unmarked Martin Ødegaard on the edge of Burnley’s box, and the Gunners’ skipper wasted no time in slotting the ball past the goalkeeper to give Arsenal an early lead.
Struggling to recover from the setback, Burnley found themselves on the back foot as Arsenal’s solid defense thwarted any attempts at a swift retaliation. Despite the Clarets’ efforts to regain control, Arsenal maintained possession and continued to press forward in search of a second goal.
As the first half progressed, Arsenal had a golden opportunity to extend their lead when Bukayo Saka’s cross found Leandro Trossard in the box, but the Belgian forward failed to capitalize, halting the promising attack.
Just before halftime, Burnley’s woes deepened as Assignon’s foul on Trossard inside the penalty area gifted Arsenal a penalty, which Bukayo Saka confidently converted to ensure Arteta’s side entered the break with a well-deserved lead.
Despite the setback, Burnley remained determined to mount a comeback in the second half. However, their hopes were dashed as Arsenal wasted no time in further extending their lead. Saka, displaying clinical finishing once again, scored his second goal of the match early in the second half, leaving Burnley with an uphill battle.
The match took a somber turn as Aaron Ramsey was forced off the pitch following a collision with Ødegaard, receiving medical attention as he was stretchered away. Despite the setback, Arsenal continued to dominate, with Trossard and Havertz adding to Burnley’s misery with two more goals.
The final whistle blew, sealing Burnley’s fate with a resounding defeat. The loss leaves Kompany’s men languishing seven points adrift of safety, with the daunting task of clawing their way out of relegation territory. On the other hand, Arsenal’s convincing victory bolsters their goal difference and places them just two points shy of the league leaders, Liverpool.
In summary, Arsenal’s commanding performance exemplifies their prowess as title contenders, while Burnley’s struggles underscore the challenges they face in their battle for survival in the Premier League.
