6 talking points as Arsenal obliterate Burnley and resurgent Saka bags brace

17 February 2024 , 16:58

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Kai Havertz topped it off for Arsenal (Image: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Arsenal enjoyed another huge away win as they hammered Burnley 5-0 at a wet and wild Turf Moor.

Following up last Sunday's 6-0 demolition job at West Ham, two strikes from Bukayo Saka as well as goals from Martin Odegaard, Leandro Trossard and Kai Havertz did the damage against Vincent Kompany's strugglers.

Odegaard opened the floodgates after just four minutes, with the Gunners looking as ruthless in East Lancashire as they were in East London. Saka then struck either side of half-time, once from the penalty spot, allowing Trossard and Havertz to get in on the act to put Mikel Arteta's title-chasing side within two points of Liverpool at the top of the Premier League table while now boasting the best goal difference in the division.

Here are six talking points from Turf Moor.

1. Gunners pick up where they left off

After cruising to a 6-0 win at West Ham, Arsenal's travelling supporters would've forgiven their side for a slow start in East Lancashire. Captain Martin Odegaard wasn't taking it easy, though, as within four minutes the Norwegian midfielder produced a pearler to instantly respond to Liverpool's 4-1 win at Brentford in the 12:30 kick-off.

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Declan Rice drove down the left-hand side of midfield, playing the ball out to Gabriel Martinelli, who found Odegaard with a lovely outside-of-the-boot cross. The Arsenal skipper controlled the ball well and rifled an effort into the bottom right-hand corner of James Trafford's goal to give the Gunners a perfect start.

Now with 20 goals and 13 assists to his name, only six players have been involved in more Premier League goals since the start of last season than Odegaard.

Martin Odegaard gave Arsenal the lead within four minutes (Daniel Chesterton/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)

2. Kiwior coming into his own

The first 12 months of Jakub Kiwior's Arsenal career weren't easy to say the least. A lack of game-time and being forced to play in an unnatural position at left-back meant it was hard going for the Poland international.

But after Mikel Arteta was forced to turn to him in the absences of Oleksandr Zinchenko and Takehiro Tomiyasu, Kiwior looks a different animal. Settled on the left of a back four, the former Spezia propsect - who celebrated his 24th birthday on Thursday - is beginning to shine thanks to his performances against Liverpool and West Ham in recent weeks.

At Turf Moor, Kiwior looked assured again, playing a crucial role in Leandro Trossard's goal which made it 4-0 just after the hour mark. Defensively, his performance epitomised by a brilliant piece of play to shepherd Chelsea loanee David Detro Fofana out of play after he beat William Saliba. His intervention proved important to allow Arsenal to reset, as Odegaard was once again at the heart of Burnley's pain for goal No.2.

3. Saka's resurgence

If any player has personified Arsenal's improvement since their mid-season break in the middle of January, it's Bukayo Saka. With at least one goal or one assist in the Gunners' five games since their trip to Dubai, Saka looks fully refreshed after a rocky start to the season in which he was constantly plagued by niggling injuries.

His first strike came from the penalty spot, as Odegaard's pass into Havertz allowed the German midfielder to poke the ball through to Trossard, who caused Burnley plenty of problems throughout the first half. The ex-Brighton star was taken down and after a nervy few minutes of wait, Saka coolly slotted home, despite Trafford guessing right.

That was on the brink of half-time and it only took 88 seconds for the 22-year-old to make it 3-0 after the restart. After finding himself in acres of space on the wing, Odegaard slotted Sake in and he produced a thumping right-footed strike to leave Vincent Kompany furious.

Your turn! Will Arsenal win the Premier League title? Give us your prediction in the comments section.

Bukayo Saka scored either side of half-time (Matt McNulty/Getty Images)

4. Concern from Ramsey

Just before Arsenal's fourth, there was a five-minute delay after Burnley winger Aaron Ramsey went down with what appeared to be a serious knee injury and landed awkwardly. In unsettling scenes, the 21-year-old was given oxygen as he was stretchered off and gave the hosts another concern on a miserable afternoon.

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Burnley's defensive issues are clear for all to see, summed up by Havertz's goal which made it five and prompted an exodus from the stands. But the real tests for relegation-threatened Clarets are about to come.

Aaron Ramsey went off injured after unsettling scenes (ANDY BUCHANAN/AFP via Getty Images)

5. Crunch time for Kompany's men

Alright, we weren't expecting Burnley to end their seven-game winless streak with a victory over Arsenal, but now the pressure really comes for Kompany and co. Next up for the Clarets is a crucial trip to Crystal Palace, who are likely to be hoping for a new manager bounce in Oliver Glasner.

Then comes a home game against Bournemouth before facing West Ham away. Kompany's men are certainly fighting for him but while he admirably refuses to compromise on his tactical principals and fails to get results, the idea of a change in the Turf Moor dugout seems more and more plausible. However, Clarets chairman Alan Pace could be thinking of the long-term and few would doubt Burnley's ability to come straight back up.

Vincent Kompany needs to get his thinking cap on (Marc Atkins/Getty Images)

6. Historic unbeaten streak continues

Arsenal's post-mid-season break form is beginning to bring some pleasing stats for the Gunners, but their unbeaten record at Burnley stretches back to 1973. Arsenal are now with a defeat in their last 11 away league games at Turf Moor (six wins and five draws).

Eight of those results have come in the Premier League, with only Chelsea - also against Burnley, coincidentally - playing away against to a team more often without ever losing (nine).

Nathan Ridley