Saka scores twice as ruthless Arsenal thrash Burnley

Bukayo Saka has scored six goals in his last four Premier League away games

Kai Havertz said Arsenal are “all in this together” after the Gunners continued their blistering goalscoring form to thrash Burnley and close the gap at the top of the Premier League to two points.

Bukayo Saka converted from the spot to double the lead after Lorenz Assignon fouled Leandro Trossard in the box.

“We are in a good moment, we have won all of the games so far so it feels good,” Havertz said after the match.

“Behind that was hard work and there are many hard games to come. We have to continue the hard work.”

England forward Saka got his second just after the restart as Arsenal kept up the pace, latching on to a clever Odegaard pass then cutting inside and rifling a shot into the roof of the net.

Havertz’s scuffed effort was blocked in the box but Trossard was alert to curl in for his third goal in as many league games.

Jakub Kiwior’s long throw down the line then found an unmarked Havertz, who ghosted in behind the defence and drilled past home goalkeeper James Trafford to complete a comprehensive win for the Gunners.

Arsenal, who have 21 goals in five straight wins, move two points behind leaders Liverpool, while Burnley remain in the relegation zone.

Gunners rampant in brilliant away victory

Arsenal have scored five or more goals in successive away league matches for the first time in their history

The Gunners, following up last week’s comprehensive win at London Stadium, have started a calendar year with five consecutive league wins for the first time in their history, and blew Burnley away with their slick football.

And the in-form Gunners may even have scored more at Turf Moor, with Trossard going close on two occasions before he eventually found the net.

Havertz continually caused problems by picking up pockets of space with his movement off the ball while Saka, Trossard and Martinelli interchanged in the box to regularly threaten.

Odegaard led by example, scoring his first goal since December 2 and providing the assist for Saka’s second strike.

Saka has scored in four consecutive league appearances for the first time in his career, netting six across those four games, more than in his previous 19 league games.

When Mikel Arteta’s side are on song, they are hard to stop.

“We are really pleased because it is a difficult place to come and Burnley have been very competitive in the big games they have played so far this season,” the Arsenal boss told BBC Match of the Day.

“We are generating competition within the squad. They are a joy to work with, the way they train every day and apply themselves, and how they want to improve.

“They want more – that’s the good thing.”

Goalkeeper David Raya didn’t have a save to make as Arsenal kept consecutive top-flight clean sheets for just the second time this season.

Arteta’s side travel to Porto in the Champions League last 16 on Wednesday, before hosting Newcastle next Saturday (20:00 GMT) as they look to maintain their flawless start to the year.

Clarets suffer another damaging home defeat

Burnley were comprehensively beaten after putting in a dismal display at home, with manager Vincent Kompany watching despondently in the stands because of a touchline ban.

The Clarets did not attempt a shot on target in a match for the first time since Boxing Day and were under pressure from the first minute.

Kompany’s side have conceded 26 first-half goals in 25 games, more than any other team in the Premier League this season.

Being caught out by a long throw for Arsenal’s fifth goal and failing to track Havertz’s run into the box summed up the woeful defending that means Burnley – seven points from safety – are fighting against the odds to remain in the division.

To compound their misery, midfielder Aaron Ramsey was carried off on a stretcher after suffering a seemingly serious knee injury and requiring oxygen in the 63rd minute.

Player of the match

SakaBukayo Saka

with an average of 8.61

Burnley

1. Squad number1Player nameTrafford

   Average rating

   4.58

2. Squad number23Player nameFofana

   Average rating

   4.49

3. Squad number20Player nameAssignon

   Average rating

   4.28

4. Squad number2Player nameO’Shea

   Average rating

   4.26

5. Squad number8Player nameBrownhill

   Average rating

   4.11

6. Squad number21Player nameA Ramsey

   Average rating

   4.07

7. Squad number33Player nameEsteve

   Average rating

   4.06

8. Squad number47Player nameOdobert

   Average rating

   4.05

9. Squad number16Player nameBerge

   Average rating

   4.05

10. Squad number25Player nameAmdouni

    Average rating

    4.02

11. Squad number44Player nameDelcroix

    Average rating

    3.80

12. Squad number9Player nameRodríguez

    Average rating

    3.71

13. Squad number7Player nameGudmundsson

    Average rating

    3.70

14. Squad number34Player nameBruun Larsen

    Average rating

    3.70

15. Squad number3Player nameTaylor

    Average rating

    3.62

16. Squad number22Player nameVitinho

    Average rating

    3.58

Arsenal

1. Squad number7Player nameSaka

   Average rating

   8.61

2. Squad number8Player nameØdegaard

   Average rating

   8.46

3. Squad number41Player nameRice

   Average rating

   8.14

4. Squad number19Player nameTrossard

   Average rating

   8.12

5. Squad number10Player nameSmith Rowe

   Average rating

   7.95

6. Squad number11Player nameGabriel Martinelli

   Average rating

   7.92

7. Squad number2Player nameSaliba

   Average rating

   7.86

8. Squad number6Player nameGabriel Magalhães

   Average rating

   7.77

9. Squad number4Player nameWhite

   Average rating

   7.73

10. Squad number29Player nameHavertz

    Average rating

    7.72

11. Squad number20Player nameJorginho

    Average rating

    7.61

12. Squad number24Player nameNelson

    Average rating

    7.58

13. Squad number15Player nameKiwior

    Average rating

    7.57

14. Squad number14Player nameNketiah

    Average rating

    7.34

15. Squad number17Player nameCédric Soares

    Average rating

    7.33

16. Squad number22Player nameRaya

    Average rating

    6.92

Total Football News

Total Football News – UK football news aggregator.