Arsenal Get Used to Scoring Big and Rises to Second Place
Five against Crystal Palace, three against Liverpool, six against West Ham United, and five against Burnley. Arsenal is a scoring machine and, led by a brace from Bukayo Saka, a rocket from Martin Odegaard, and contributions from Leandro Trossard and Kai Havertz, crushed Burnley in their latest display to start a year with five consecutive wins for the first time in their history (0-5).
Without the distraction of playing the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 this Wednesday since the Arsene Wenger era, Arsenal didn't underestimate the bottom team and steamrolled them with another scandalous victory.
The 'Clarets', with Vincent Kompany suspended in the stands, bowed down to a vastly superior Arsenal team that didn't need even five minutes to dismantle Turf Moor, once one of the toughest grounds for opponents and now, since their return to the Premier League, practically a walk in the park.
Within four minutes, the first run from Martinelli down the wing ended with the ball at Odegaard's feet at the edge of the box, and he volleyed it near the post. Kompany, in the stands, was already pacing nervously, aware that the chance to hold out as long as possible and rely on a breakout from David Datro Fofana or Zeki Amdouni was already buried.
Before halftime, Saka, from a penalty committed on Trossard, extended the lead, and the second half was a tranquil oasis for Mikel Arteta's team.
With no time for all the fans to take their seats after halftime, Odegaard found Saka inside the box, who controlled with his right, dragged the ball with his left, and rifled it with his right, in a fluid motion that sealed Burnley's fate.
Far from settling and beginning to think about the Champions League clash against Porto, Arsenal's attackers kept pressing and forcing errors in Burnley's defenders and goalkeeper, leading to the fourth goal, scored by Leandro Trossard.
Kai Havertz also joined the party, as he muscled past a defender from a long throw-in and scored his first goal of 2024.
The match ended with 'olés' from the Arsenal fans to their team, who are keeping pace with Liverpool and Manchester City, and with the question of how much longer Burnley's board will tolerate Kompany, who has garnered thirteen points out of 75 possible this season.
The 'Gunners' remain two points behind Liverpool and put pressure on City, who, pending their match against Chelsea, sit third with 52 points.