We made it nine wins in a row thanks to a 2-0 success at Burnley, moving us six points clear at the top of the Premier League table.
Goals from Viktor Gyokeres and Declan Rice proved to be the difference on the scoresheet, but what were the other factors that led us to yet another victory, as well as a clean sheet?
Adrian Clarke has rewatched the action and dipped into the stats to highlight some of the standout moments and displays:
BLISTERING FIRST HALF
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The damage was done during a near-unplayable period in the first half when Mikel Arteta’s side exerted total dominance and control. Manoeuvring the ball with pace and purpose, as well as moving themselves around the pitch with dynamism, Burnley had no answer, conceding twice.
Statistically we produced our eight best chances (according to xG) between the 14th and 38th minute of the contest, a spell where we scored both goals. During that scintillating 24-minute period, we accumulated 2.27 xG, a figure which dwarfs the 0.15 xG we had during the rest of the game at Turf Moor.
Arsenal's attack v Burnley
**14-38 mins**
**Rest of Match**
**Goals**
2
0
**Shots**
8
4
**Expected goals**
2.27
0.15
**Touches in opp box**
11
12
One aspect of our play which stood out during that purple patch was the way Riccardo Calafiori and Leandro Trossard worked in tandem down the left wing, tying Burnley in knots on several occasions. Performing with confidence and vibrancy, that duo took us upfield very well indeed.
As you can see from the 1st half v 2nd half comparison maps, they became much more restrained once we had the 2-0 lead:
SET PIECE AGAIN!
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We have now scored eight goals from corners in the Premier League this term, a record high by a team in their first 10 games of a single campaign. The latest was an important one, as it broke the deadlock, and it came from one of the most underrated assists you could ever wish to see.
The Declan Rice delivery was a terrific one, swirling over the goalkeeper towards the far post, but the routine itself was incredibly simple. Gabriel darted around his marker to take up a far post position, while Viktor Gyokeres slid inside to occupy space inside the centre of the six-yard box:
What happened next is the reason I believe this was one of the best assists of the season so far. In among bodies with the ball coming out of the sky, and off balance at the time the ball reached him, Gabriel produced the deftest of one-touch volleys to set up Gyokeres for an easy headed finish:
The Brazilian made this piece of skill look far, far easier than it was. His presence of mind to set the ball perfectly for our summer signing was impressive enough, but the execution of the volley – on the move – was exceptional. From this moment on, we never looked back.
PLAYING IN RUNNERS
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Gyokeres was razor sharp at Turf Moor, creating three chances as well as scoring in arguably his brightest 45 minutes in an Arsenal shirt so far. Playing with energy, he worked Burnley’s defenders right across the forward line, while also dragging them into midfield on occasion.
Our Swedish frontman set up captain Bukayo Saka for two gilt-edged chances to score, with clever through balls. Controlling Martin Zubimendi’s looping header, he played Saka in with a quality pass beyond their last man, Maxime Esteve, and on another day he might have scored from the 1v1:
After good work initially from Rice and Eberechi Eze (who enjoyed 100% pass accuracy in this encounter), Gyokeres then slipped a perfectly timed pass into the path for Saka to have another crack at goal. The intelligence and weight of the pass was excellent, but on this occasion, only a brilliant save from Martin Dubravka denied Saka:
It shouldn’t be forgotten that it was Gyokeres’ raking diagonal pass on the counter that released Trossard down the left, in the move that led to Rice’s killer second goal:
While the second half was far more pedestrian in terms of our dynamism on the ball – unsurprising given our lead – we also saw substitute centre-forward Mikel Merino produce an incisive through ball too. This touch, turn and pass to release Saka in beyond was another example of how our strikers intelligently dropped short to link play, in order to create space for the players around them:
RAYA UNTROUBLED - AGAIN
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In effect, this was the fourth game in a row where we did not face a single shot on target. Officially this was our third shutout in that department of the season so far, but it is widely accepted that the Eddie Nketiah ‘attempt’ against Crystal Palace was logged in error.
Keeping the hosts at arm’s length, we defended extremely well yet again, with Gabriel the pick of our back four, dominating his own box with nine clearances. His desire to get the first contact on long throws shone brightly in particular.
We have now conceded a maximum of one shot on target in six of our 10 Premier League matches.
Least shots on target faced in 25/26
**Opponent**
Shots
Burnley
0
Fulham
0
West Ham
0
Crystal Palace
1
Leeds
1
Notts Forest
1
The only time we have conceded more than one expected goal was on the opening weekend away to Manchester United, and with just three goals conceded in 15 matches in all competitions, this is now the best defensive start to a season that any English club in history has ever made.
RICE WAS EVERYWHERE
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Our player of the match was Rice, who produced a display of unerring class. Covering 11.4km, he ran further than any Arsenal player but it was his positioning, reading of the game and decision making that marked him out as the main man.
His goal was first class. Initially he ran off his markers with great determination to give himself a chance of getting on the end of Trossard’s cross. With Eze occupying two defenders he arrived late and unnoticed:
And once the ball reached him, Rice’s header was planted with authority into the corner:
His off-the-ball work was supremely commanding. By the time the final whistle blew, he had produced some staggeringly good numbers: nine ball recoveries, five tackles won, three interceptions, nine duels won, and three aerial duels won. This chalkboard shows how well he offered both full-back coverage and protection:
**Rice Defensive Chalkboard**
_(Tackles Won, Interceptions, Recoveries, Clearances)_
With and without the ball, the England international was at his dominant best, delivering a performance full of character, determination and mastery. His personality is perfectly suited to the driven attitude instilled by Arteta, and in this 2-0 success, he ensured standards remained high.
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