Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta. (Photo by Michael Driver/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
The wins just keep on coming for Arsenal. The English Premier League leaders extended their advantage at the top of the table to seven points with a 2-0 victory against Burnley.
That’s 13 wins from 15 games in all competitions for Mikel Arteta’s team after a flying start to the season that has only strengthened belief they will be champions again after a 22-year wait.
First-half goals from Viktor Gyokeres and Declan Rice at Turf Moor on Saturday made it nine wins in a row and put further distance between Arsenal and the chasing pack.
“It’s a really tough place to come. They’ve lost once [here] in 18 months, against Liverpool, with the last kick of the game from a penalty. I think we started the game exceptionally well,” Arteta said.
“I think the first half was one of the best that we’ve played. Scored two goals, generated another two or three big chances and conceded nothing. That was a platform because in the second half, we dropped the standards, especially with the ball and with our intentions to take more risks and play forwards.
“But again, defensively, we were exceptional until the point of the free-kick. We were a bit lucky that it hit the post and we kept the clean sheet.”
In the early evening kick off, Chelsea moved level with Tottenham thanks to a 1-0 away win courtesy of Joao Pedro’s first-half goal.
Pedro punished slack home defending but could have had a hat-trick but for home goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario.
Manchester United maintained their recent unbeaten run by scoring late on salvage a 2-2 draw at Nottingham Forest.
United had led Forest at halftime thanks to Casemiro’s header, but then fell behind when Morgan Gibbs-White and Nicolo Savona struck within five minutes of the restart.
It put new Forest coach Sean Dyche in sight of a first league win since taking charge but Amad Diallo scored a stunning left-footed volley from the edge of the area with nine minutes left.
An eighth league defeat from 10 games this season leaves Wolves rock bottom and in danger of being cut adrift.
The signs were ominous when Ryan Sessegnon opened the scoring for Fulham at Craven Cottage and it got worse.
Emmanuel Agbadou was sent off in the 36th minute and in the second half Harry Wilson extended Fulham’s lead before Yerson Mosquera’s own goal made it 3-0.
Veteran striker Danny Welbeck opened the scoring for Brighton as they won 3-0 at promoted Leeds. The Brighton striker’s 11th-minute goal at the Amex Stadium was his sixth in as many games.
At this rate, the former Man United and Arsenal player may be a contender for England’s World Cup squad.
Diego Gomez scored twice in the second half to complete the 3-0 win.
Jean-Philippe Mateta was on target as Crystal Palace beat Brentford 2-0. The other goal was put through his own net by Bees defender Nathan Collins.
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