Arsenal Keeps Pressure on Premier League Leaders

Arsenal maintained their relentless pursuit of the Premier League summit with a commanding 5-0 victory over relegation-threatened Burnley, ensuring they remain unbeaten since the turn of the year. The Gunners, under the stewardship of Mikel Arteta, are now just two points shy of league leaders Liverpool, who also secured a win on Saturday.

A stellar run in 2024

Arteta's squad has been in formidable form throughout 2024, notching up consecutive wins against Crystal Palace (5-0), Nottingham Forest (1-2), Liverpool (3-1), and West Ham United (0-6). The clash with Burnley presented an ideal opportunity to extend this winning streak, and Arsenal seized it with both hands.

Burnley's struggle continues

Vincent Kompany's Burnley, having managed only three wins this season and none since December 23, found themselves level on points with bottom-placed Sheffield United, both teams languishing with a mere thirteen points. Any hopes of a positive result for the Clarets were swiftly dashed as Arsenal dominated from the outset.

Arsenal's early onslaught

The Gunners wasted no time asserting their dominance, with Martin Ødegaard opening the scoring just four minutes into the game with a precise strike from just outside the box. Bukayo Saka then doubled Arsenal's lead before halftime, converting a penalty awarded after a foul on Leandro Trossard.

Continued dominance

The second half saw Arsenal pick up where they left off, with Saka netting his second of the match – a powerful shot into the roof of the net that left Burnley's goalkeeper James Trafford wanting. Trossard and Kai Havertz further compounded Burnley's misery, with Havertz's goal – a sublime finish following a nutmeg on Hannes Delcroix – being the highlight. With this victory, Arsenal can afford to watch how their title rivals Manchester City respond. City, level on points and with an identical goal difference to Arsenal before the match, now face a challenging task to keep pace, especially with a game against the unpredictable Chelsea later in the day.

A tight title race

As the Premier League season progresses, the title race remains tantalizingly poised. Arsenal's emphatic win over Burnley not only showcases their title credentials but also puts pressure on Liverpool and Manchester City to respond. With performances like these, Arsenal's fans have every reason to believe that this could be their year to reclaim the Premier League crown.