Another game ticked off, and the wheels keep turning for this Arsenal side. Not a blistering performance, but one that was measured, clinical, and controlled, the hallmarks of a team that knows exactly what it’s doing. Arteta once again rolled out his a familiar Premier League eleven, a settled core that’s been racking up results, with the likes of Odegaard, Havertz, Madueke, and Jesus still waiting in the wings.
What’s striking about this team, and something my brother pointed out in conversation, is how reminiscent they are of the early Wenger sides. They’re physically imposing, capable of mixing it when needed, yet still possess the technical finesse to play through teams. It’s the culmination of year on year quality and adaptation under Arteta, and this match was another example of that balance. The backline, for all its power, showed remarkable composure in playing out from the back, especially noticeable in the second half, watching from home.
The opener came from a spell of intricate passing around the box, leading to a corner after Trossard tried slipping Calafiori in down the side, a defender’s touch and Dubravka’s misjudgement nudging it over the line. It was a recurring theme throughout the afternoon and the season, our fullbacks, for all their defensive solidity, are popping up in central areas, tough to mark, and adding attacking flair. At times, they even occupy the vacated striker role, creating overloads and chaos.
From the resulting corner, the same trio combined again, Rice with another pinpoint delivery to the far post, Gabriel ghosting round the back to nod it across, and Gyokeres heading home on the line, a move similar to the Atletico goal from the other week. It’s becoming a trademark, and it evokes memories of the George Graham era, Bould to the front post, flick on, Adams arriving to finish.
And once that first goal goes in, there’s a strange calm now. Not arrogance, but assurance as a fan, a feeling unfamiliar to those of us who’ve endured the rollercoaster of previous Arsenal sides. You look at the back four and see control. Add the shield of Zubimendi and Rice in front, and it’s no wonder we’re so hard to break down. Zubimendi did go off late with a muscular issue, but with his suspension for the Slavia Prague trip midweek, the timing might actually work in our favour, a chance for him to rest and reset.
His midfield partner, and scorer of the second goal, Declan Rice, was simply everywhere. Dominant in every phase, ranking first across the board for match stats. He snuffs out danger, strides forward, and keeps us on the front foot. His partnership with Zubimendi is beautifully balanced, Rice the all action box to box midfielder, Zubimendi the calm measure one. Together, they give us control and bite where the game requires it.
Before Rice’s goal, we carved out more chances. Calafiori again combining well with Trossard, receiving a deft pass in the box. He might’ve hit it first time, but instead showed quick feet to shift onto his left before seeing his shot blocked. Gyokeres, in what was arguably his best performance in an Arsenal shirt, was active and instrumental, linking play, setting up Saka for two good chances. One was saved low by Dubravka, the other parried out to Trossard and cleared off the line from the resulting shot from the Belgian.
The second goal was a devastating counter attack. Burnley had just begun to show some attacking intent, launching a flurry of long throws. Gabriel dealt with the final one, Saka found Gyokeres, who strode away from his own half and clipped a cross field ball on the run to Trossard. With Eze central, pulling defenders away, Rice arrived with perfect timing to meet Trossard’s delivery and power it home. 2-0 before the break, and fully deserved.
The second half was more subdued, but it didn’t need to be anything else. Arsenal managed the game from second gear, conserving energy. Gyokeres, unfortunately, was replaced at the break with a muscle issue, a shame, given his performance. Merino came on in a false nine role, dropping deep to help in midfield, but we struggled to get the ball to stick up top. Saka was quiet, and chances were few and far between. Trossard had a half chance, taking down a long ball, beating his man, and firing low from the edge of the box.
Burnley had a go, but Arsenal’s defensive structure held firm. No shots on target again, a growing trend so far this campaign. Their best moment came around the 75th minute, a free kick nodded to the back post but headed over. Late on, Nwaneri, Norgaard, and Skelly were introduced. Nwaneri showed flashes, firing just past the post, while Norgaard nearly grabbed his first for the club after a clever flick from Merino. Burnley’s closest effort came from Edwards, whose curling free kick struck the post as the last action of the afternoon.
And with that, the final whistle. Another three points. Another clean sheet. Another display of control and maturity. There’s a relentlessness to this side now, reminiscent of the Man City blueprint. Conserve energy, control the tempo, and keep the game ticking over. With the stodgy, congested fixture list after Christmas going into the spring months, added with the potential of the side competing on four fronts, this approach could be crucial.
Midweek rotation will be interesting. Another win would all but confirm our place in the Champions League knockouts. With Zubimendi suspended, Norgaard looks set for his first European start.
One final takeaway for me from the game, for all the talk of set pieces and long throws, it was refreshing to see pundits finally highlight how Arsenal are engineering these situations. Match of the Day pointed out how our fullbacks are popping up in attacking areas, causing chaos, overloading zones, and forcing clearances and corners. It’s smart, it’s deliberate, and with the physical profile we’ve built, there’s always a chance to break games open from dead ball opportunities.
Next up, its Champions League action midweek, then Sunderland away and a reunion with Granit Xhaka. The Mackems are flying since their return to the top flight, so it’ll be a proper test at the Stadium of the light. Until then, enjoy the week and talk to you after hopefully two more wins.
The View From Block 107 