On a crisp evening at Turf Moor, Arsenal delivered a performance in the opening 45 minutes that Arteta described as “one of the best we have played”. As we maintained our remarkable run of form—extending to nine wins in all competitions and five straight in the Premier League—We once again showcased a blend of efficiency, intensity and structure.
Early Dominance: Setting the Tone
From the kick-off Arsenal pressed with purpose. By the end of the first half Arsenal has scored twice, created several clear chances, and kept a clean sheet. “We started the game exceptionally well … the first half is one of the best that we’ve played: scored two goals, generated another two or three big chances and conceded nothing.” said Mikel Arteta.
One goal came from a corner, underlining Arsenal’s set-piece threat which continues to grow. Meanwhile, our opponent, Burnley, offered little in response, with their first real effort only arriving well into the second half.
Standout Moments & Players
Sweden striker Viktor Gyökeres opened the scoring, and Arteta was quick to praise not just the goal but the broader performance: “His high press, his positioning and his touches … he linked play … he was in a really good moment.” Unfortunately for Gyökeres, a muscle niggle forced him off at half-time as a precaution.
Defensively, Arsenal were rock-solid. Burnley’s boss acknowledged as much: “It was so hard to defend the Gunners at set-pieces … you’ve got the runs, the physicality, the delivery … you’d probably not score as many as Arsenal are scoring without those players.”
What It Means for the Title Race
This match underlines more than just another win—it reflects growth in Arsenal’s identity. Arteta’s side are no longer solely relying on moments of brilliance; We’re demonstrating consistent dominance and controlled aggression. A team ready to challenge for the title needs matches like this—where we do more than win: we impose themselves.
With a lead at the top of the Premier League and performances that reflect composure and maturity, Arsenal are signalling to rivals that we’re behaving like contenders, not pretenders.
Sometimes the most telling games are the ones where you take control early, apply pressure, and never allow opponents back in. That’s what we saw from Arsenal in the first half against Burnley—clean, confident, commanding. As Arteta aptly put it, “That was a platform.”
For us as fans and neutrals alike, this is a moment worth remembering: a signpost that Arsenal might not just be chasing history—they’re writing it.
Next Up: Travel away to Slavia Praha on the Champions League battle on Tuesday!
