**Arsenal**sit pretty at the top of the Premier League after a 2-0 win over **Burnley**at Turf Moor.
The Gunners grabbed the opening goal of the game through Viktor Gyökeres, who poached from close range at a familiar source of goals for the guests before **Declan Rice**doubled the advantage.
From there, it was about professional pride for the men of Mikel Arteta, who went eight points clear of second placed **Bournemouth**by full time as they continue to set the standard for elite defending.
Story of the Match
Scott Parker named an unchanged lineup for the victories against Leeds United and Wolves, but he switched one member of the attack on this occasion. JacobBruun Larsen**** made way for Josh Laurent, while Lesley Ugochukwu and Jaidon Anthony supported striker Zian Flemming.
**Mikel Arteta**oversaw a 2-0 win against **Brighton**at the Emirates Stadium in midweek. Now, **Arsenal**are undertaking the first of three away days before the international break. Eberechi Eze stayed in the lineup, dropping into midfield with **Declan Rice**and Martin Zubimendi. **William Saliba**was back in the starting eleven after an injury forced him off against Crystal Palace.
As the two teams tried to feel their way into the contest, a predictable pattern emerged. **Arsenal**would start to control the ball and the territory, waiting for their moment to strike in the final third.
Set-pieces are the known gamebreaker for the Gunners, but no one is finding a way to stop them. Rice rolled up for a delivery, whipping the ball to the back post. Gabriel Magalhaes, the typical target, got the first contact, and **Viktor Gyökeres**was present to poach his fourth Premier League goal.
Another set play could have produced a second goal for the guests. Rice again was on the money with his cross, but Jurrien Timber steered a header over the bar, letting the opposition off the hook.
Gyökeres was in his groove, and he started to play provider. First came a through ball that Maxime Esteve could not clear. Bukayo Saka stepped on the gas to receive, but he could not bury his strike.
The right winger would be the recipient of another goalscoring opportunity thanks to the link-up of Gyökeres, but Martin Dubvraka dealt with his tame right footed strike. Leandro Trossard latched onto the rebound to try and finish off the job, but his goal bound effort was blocked on the goal line.
The visitors would not be denied for too much longer. They defended a set-piece and broke forward on the counter as Gyökeres spread the play wide left for Trossard to chase. The winger cut inside and clipped a cross into the danger zone, where Rice rose highest to head the ball beyond the goalkeeper.
Half time arrived with a solid two goal advantage for Arteta’s men. Most of all, they had not even conceded a single shot, let alone an effort on target. It looked like an uphill challenge for the Clarets.
The **Arsenal**manager made a change for the start of the second half, bringing off Gyökeres for Mikel Merino. The Spaniard slotted into the role of a makeshift striker that he fulfilled for three months of the 2024/25 campaign, and he hoped to grab his second **Premier League**strike of the new season.
Trossard forced a smart save out of Dubravka, but a low event affair prevailed in this phase of the game. The Gunners have learned to trust in their defensive stability, and they dared the hosts to try and disorganise their backline. There were more phases of threat from Burnley, but no shots to write home about— even after the introduction of Bruun Larsen and Loum Tchaouna in the 62nd minute.
There was a brief scare for the away side: Esteve got free from Merino at the back post as he read the flight of a clipped long ball and Florentino Luis latched onto the knockdown but he missed the target.
But there was no real belief that **Burnley**would break the wall of the opposition defence. Arteta was happy to turn to the bench as he managed playing time ahead of a midweek trip to Slavia Praha.
Christian Norgaard came on for Martin Zubimendi, Piero Hincapie helped take the load off Riccardo Calafiori, and **Ethan Nwaneri**earned more minutes in a central role in place of Eze.
Myles Lewis-Skelly was the fifth and final substitute for the Gunners, indicating the depth in their ranks. Neither Nwaneri nor Norgaard could add a third goal for the guests, but the main goal would have been keeping another clean sheet. Gabriel gave away a last minute free kick, and David Raya repelled a fierce effort from Marcus Edwards to complete a professional job for Arteta’s men.
Player of the Match: Declan Rice
One of the established pillars of this system, **Declan Rice**impressed again in the engine room.
The box-to-box midfielder has highlighted his offensive qualities since his move to North London, producing a goal off a galloping off-ball run and several excellent deliveries in dead ball situations.
Most of all, he patrols the spine of the side with his robust athleticism, endless energy, and mental concentration. With another disciplined display in the bag, the Gunners are rolling on at the top.