Arsenal v Burnley review

MO

Arsenal v Burnley review

By Oscar Maung-Haley

The dust has settled on last weekend's Premier League action so it’s time to have a look at the best bits from Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Burnley on Saturday.

Odegaard produces stunner

We’ll start with the moment that changed the game. 

In the 28th minute, Burnley midfielder Ashley Westwood scythed down Bukayo Saka who was driving into the box.
Westwood’s tackle handed the Gunners a dangerous free-kick on the edge of the area, with a host of players standing over the ball.

Thankfully for Mikel Arteta’s side, it was Norwegian maestro Martin Odegaard who stepped up, hitting a wonderfully curled left-footed strike past a diving Nick Pope to give the Gunners the lead.

And Odegaard’s stunner proved to be the difference between the two sides on the day at Turf Moor.

Arsenal may have started the new Premier League campaign slowly, but if they can get Odegaard and co firing on all cylinders, they should climb up the table in no time at all.

Ramsdale proving doubters wrong

Aaron Ramsdale

We don’t want to jinx Aaron Ramsdale at all…but how good has he been since he arrived at the Emirates?!

The England goalkeeper kept his third clean sheet in as many appearances against Burnley, producing a superb save from a stinging Maxwel Cornet strike in the second half.

His distribution has already impressed Arteta, who feels it adds another dimension to Arsenal’s attack.

And he also played a blinder when it came to Burnley’s penalty that was later overturned by VAR.

A sloppy back pass from Ben White pitted Ramsdale and Burnley forward Matej Vydra in a footrace to see who could reach the ball first.

While Ramsdale did catch Vydra in the process, he also managed to get a vital touch on the ball, which VAR deemed enough to overturn the original on-field decision of a spot-kick.

A lot was made of the decision to sign Ramsdale but so far, he’s proved any doubters wrong.

Tame in attack but overall a solid display

A 1-0 win over Burnley doesn’t scream that Arsenal were on top form on Saturday.

Arsenal didn’t produce too many clear cut chances, bar some tame efforts from Emile Smith Rowe, but it was a solid display and the truth is the Gunners will take any result they can right now.

Burnley did give Arsenal plenty of challenges and issues, especially in the air but the Gunners dealt relatively easily with the aerial bombardment.

However, had the Clarets had better finishers up front, it could have been a different story.

Arsenal will need to improve going forward and be able to put games away if they are to achieve any form of success this season.

What a difference a week (or two) makes!

MA

Next weekend sees Arsenal and Tottenham face off in the North London derby.

A week ago, Spurs were flying high. They were top of the table, with three wins from three. They had yet to concede.

However, in the last two weeks, Nuno Espirito Santo’s side have shipped six goals, three against Crystal Palace and three against Chelsea.

They looked toothless in attack in both matches, with Harry Kane yet to rediscover any semblance of form.

Conversely, Arsenal head into derby day on the back of two 1-0 wins over Norwich and Burnley.

Hardly game-breaking stuff, but it might lend itself to the Gunners feeling a bit more confident on the ball when they face off against Spurs next weekend.

If I had my way, all derbies would end in a draw…my heart can’t take it!

Photo Credit: Getty Images

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