Burnley 0-5 Arsenal – Bukayo Saka scores brace as Arsenal hammer Burnley to keep pace with leaders Liverpool
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Updated 17/02/2024 at 17:55 GMT
Bukayo Saka scored twice as Arsenal hammered Burnley at Turf Moor on Saturday afternoon. The result means that the Gunners keep pace with leaders Liverpool, who earlier in the day had a thumping result of their own as they beat Brentford. Other players to star included Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz who both registered a goal and an assist during the comprehensive win.
BURNLEY, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 17: Bukayo Saka of Arsenal celebrates scoring his team's third goal during the Premier League match between Burnley FC and Arsenal FC at Turf Moor on February 17, 2024 in Burnley, England.
Image credit: Getty Images
Bukayo Saka hit a clinical double as a rampant Arsenal closed the gap on Premier League leaders Liverpool to two points with a stunning 5-0 demolition of relegation-haunted Burnley at Turf Moor.
Visiting captain Martin Odegaard set the tone for the day when he smashed a low finish into the net from Gabriel Martinelli's lovely pass on four minutes before Saka converted a penalty for the second on 41 minutes after Lorenz Assignon had felled Leandro Trossard.
Odegaard played provider as Saka buried a terrific third goal on 47 minutes with further superb finishes from Trossard (66') and Kai Havertz (78') completing the rout as Vincent Kompany's men fell to pieces under severe pressure.
The one-sided victory ensured five-star Arsenal started a calendar year with five straight league wins for the first time in the London club's history. It is also the third time this year alone that they have scored five goals or more in a match.
They move onto 55 points from 25 games with Liverpool two points ahead after their 4-1 win at Brentford earlier in the day. Manchester City had 52 points from 23 fixtures before they hosted Chelsea in the late kick-off.
Struggling Burnley – who had midfielder Aaron Ramsey carried off in the second half with a potentially serious knee injury – have 13 points from 25 matches and remain second bottom, seven points from safety.
Talking point: Records continue to tumble for free-wheeling Arsenal
After clubbing six past West Ham to record their biggest away win in the Premier League, and heaviest in the top flight since a 7-1 victory at Aston Villa in 1935, Mikel Arteta's side set a new club record by starting a fresh calendar year with five straight league wins for the first time.
They managed four straight wins in 1935, but this is a record-breaking Arsenal side who could yet create their own slice of history in May.
Can they end their 20-year wait for a Premier League title? After scoring an outrageous 21 times in the first five league matches of 2024, they are unlikely to be denied due to a lack of goals.
Player of the Match: Martin Odegaard (Arsenal)
So many candidates for the award in an Arsenal side brimming with confidence, but their Norwegian captain drilled a wonderful volley into the net for the opening goal and set up Saka for his second in an outstanding performance at the heart of a midfield simply oozing confidence, class and creativity.
Player Ratings
Burnley: Trafford 7, Delcroix 5, Esteve 5, O'Shea 5, Assignon 5, Odobert 6, Brownhill 6, Berge 6, Ramsey 6 Subs: Taylor 6, Rodríguez 6, Vitinho 6, Bruun Larsen 6, Gudmundsson 6
Arsenal: Raya 7, Kiwior 7, Gabriel 7, Saliba 7, White 7, Havertz 8, Rice 8, Odegaard 8, Martinelli 8, Trossard 7, Saka 8 Subs: Smith Rowe 6, Nketiah 6, Soares 6, Jorginho 6, Nelson 6
Match Highlights
4' GOAL! BURNLEY 0-1 ARSENAL (ODEGAARD) The visiting fans making the trip north in expectation, more than hope. Firmly in this title hunt as they start to knock the ball around before Martin Odegaard accepts a pass from Gabriel Martinelli before smashing a volley low into the corner. What a finish that is from edge of the box. Arsenal are really motoring here.
39' PENALTY TO ARSENAL! Havertz with a lovely pass into the path of Trossard, and he is taken out late by Lorenz Assignon, who picks up a booking for his troubles. VAR confirms the on-field decision.
41' GOAL! BURNLEY 0-2 ARSENAL (SAKA) And the visiting fans are loving their day out at Turf Moor. Saka eases towards the ball before planting it low to the keeper's left. Trafford just couldn't get across to keep it out. A 2-0 lead for Mikel Arteta's team. Excellent penalty.
47' GOAL! BURNLEY 0-3 ARSENAL (SAKA) Surely game, set and match for the visiting side as Saka accepts a pass from Odegaard to smash the ball high into the net. What a finish at the near post. Power beat Trafford. It is 3-0. And party time for the Arsenal support.
58' SERIOUS INJURY CONCERN FOR BURNLEY Aaron Ramsey needing some medical assistance from both benches after he was challenged by Odegaard. Looked like studs might have got stuck in turf. Clearly in some pain, and needs oxygen. A delay in the play.
66' GOAL! BURNLEY 0-4 ARSENAL (TROSSARD) Awful defending by the Clarets as Trossard bends the finish into the net from 10 yards after Havertz's initial effort was blocked. Broke to Trossard and he did the rest. Can't say it wasn't coming.
78' GOAL! BURNLEY 0-5 ARSENAL (HAVERTZ) Sublime stuff by Kai Havertz as he accepts a throw-in before he nutmegs Hannes Delcroix and races in on goal to slip home the fifth. Brilliant solo goal. No chance for Trafford. Burnley all over the show.
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