Arsenal secured their ninth win in a row and their seventh consecutive clean sheet as they scored twice at Burnley without conceding a shot on target for the third league game in four. Statistics come easily at this time for a club that hope to win the league and so far are going about it in quite some manner.
This game, however, was all about Declan Rice, who both provided the corner, of course he did, for Gabriel Magalhaes’ brilliant touch into the path of Viktor Gyokeres, who nodded home. Yet he turned from creator to goal-scorer, heading past Martin Dubravka following Leandro Trossard’s cross.
There were several signs in this professional performance which did not come without challenges. This Gunners team have everything to take their hunt to the end this time around and be successful.
For instance, while the end of the game might be remembered for Hannibal’s free kick striking the post, the play that led to this moment was critical. In fact, Mikel Arteta brought up the exact momentin his post-match press conference.
“Well, I think, again, the spirit is an action at the end, after a corner from Declan, that Ethan doesn't win the duel there,” Arteta explained. Continuing, “And you see 10 players sprinting 80 metres.
“We play with that desire, with that focus, with that discipline. We'll win a lot of games.”
And Arsenal are winning a lot of games indeed and doing so despite missing several players. Club captain Martin Odegaard is out along with £65million striker Kai Havertz, £42million winger Noni Madueke and £45million centre-forward Gabriel Jesus.
Well north of £150million in talent is missing including the skipper and in those moments you need your other stars to step up. Declan Rice’s performance is matched by his mentality and determination.
He has fully embraced his still relatively new club who he now has been part of for two full seasons, looking to make it third time lucky when it comes to the title. At the full-time whistle, he approached the Arsenal away supporters, slightly away from the main group to celebrate.
With both arms pumping, roaring, and cheering, he showed exactly the passion he has for this Arsenal group, this club and these ambitions to end the lengthening wait for the Premier League title. He is sure, if the Gunners manage it, to be a catalyst indeed.
There were some downsides in the form of Viktor Gyokeres and Martin Zubimendi’s muscular problems confirmed by Arteta post-match. The Spaniard would not have played against Slavia Praha anyway as he is suspended.
Christian Norgaard is expected to be his replacement. Arsenal were markedly worse when Gyokeres left the field, replaced by Mikel Merino.
“I think the first half was one of the best that we've played,” Arteta said. “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 standard, especially with the ball and with our intentions to take more risks, to play more forward.”
Merino simply doesn’t provide the types of powerful runs off the last man as the Swede does. Hardly a criticism considering until Havertz and Jesus return, he is the makeshift option who it should not be forgotten was the choice when putting five past Real Madrid across two legs last season.
Here though it was not his best game by any stretch. Whether he plays in the role on Tuesday night in Europe will depend on the Swedish striker’s status and whether Arteta considers Leandro Trossard for the role, potentially.
Andre Harriman-Annous started again, Brighton and nearly scored, and he too could be an option. Navigating the trip to Czechia is followed by a meeting with Sunderland at the Stadium of Light before the last international break of the year.
Finding a way of claiming an eighth clean sheet this Tuesday will result in equalling a club record set by the Gunners side of 1903. No, that is not a typo.
Each week, this team continues to impress in both inevitable and surprising ways. What the next week holds, we don’t yet know, but from an Arsenal perspective, each game has everyone watching, even if many do not wish to admit it (although some might switch off in frustration, but who can blame them?).
