Bukayo Saka’s brace helped a rampaging Arsenal make club history and keep the pressure on Premier League leaders Liverpool in a match marred by a serious injury to Burnley’s Aaron Ramsey.
Martin Odegaard’s early goal put Mikel Arteta’s side in control and Saka added his 14th goal of the season from the penalty spot after Lorenz Assignon brought down Leandro Trossard.
The in-form England international scored again early in the second half to take his tally to six in four games before Leandro Trossard and Kai Havertz finished the job.
Arsenal have won their first five league games of 2024 – the first time they have done so in any calendar year – and scored 21 goals in the process. It is not surprising that Odegaard marked his goal by putting his hand to his ear as a message to the police of the celebration.
Burnley’s tenth home defeat of the season was made even worse when Ramsey fell awkwardly and got his studs caught in the turf following a challenge from Odegaard. The midfielder was carried on a stretcher, sucking oxygen to relieve the pain.
Bukayo Saka scored twice to help keep the pressure on Liverpool with a 5-0 win at Burnley.
Martin Odegaard opened the scoring after four minutes to give Mikel Arteta’s team control.
The match was marred by the serious injury of Aaron Ramsey, who had to be taken off on a stretcher and given oxygen.
The result means Arsenal remain two points behind Liverpool, who had won at Brentford earlier in the day, while Burnley will drop to last place if Sheffield United achieve a result against Brighton on Sunday.
With Clarets manager Vincent Kompany serving a suspension on the touchline, his assistant Craig Bellamy was a visible presence in the technical area and saw his team fall behind after four minutes.
Ironically, the home team had made a positive start by harassing Arsenal, but the first time the visitors entered the final third, they scored.
Gabriel Martinelli’s pace brought him close to the left wing and the Brazilian had the composure to look up and retreat towards a group of teammates waiting on the edge of the area.
It reached Odegaard’s feet and his first low shot into the corner left no chance for James Trafford, ending a streak of 12 games without scoring for the Norwegian.
39 points separated the two teams before kickoff, so the breakthrough was no surprise.
Martinelli continued to be given too much space and Burnley midfielder Aaron Ramsey was slow to appear and assist right back Assignon.
Having chased shadows for most of the first half hour, Burnley temporarily came out of their shell with dangerous man Wilson Odobert breaking away and forcing David Raya into a save at his near post.
Leandro Trossard scored Arsenal’s fourth and now has five consecutive victories
Kai Havertz sealed the win in the 78th minute, with Arsenal scoring 21 goals in five games.
After that normal service resumed. Saka would have set up Kai Havertz for a layup without a Berge interception. The winger then slipped another opportunity into the path of Leandro Trossard, which the Belgian missed.
Burnley’s midfield, led by Josh Brownhill, attempted to disrupt the Gunners’ tempo with small fouls, but could not prevent a second Arsenal goal before the break.
Passes from Odegaard and Havertz opened up the Clarets defense and when Assignon slid in to challenge Trossard, he trapped the man enough for referee Jarred Gillett to award a penalty and book the defender.
Odegaard and Saka tried to confuse Trafford by both holding on to the ball before taking the shot. In the end, Saka took responsibility and slotted it low to the goalkeeper’s left, the first time he had scored in four consecutive league games.
Arsenal’s goals came from the only shots on goal by either team in the first 45 minutes. The second half began in a downpour, but Zeki Amdouni was already caught and hooked during the break for Johann Berg Gudmundsson to add some physical strength to Burnley’s ranks.
The plan fell apart 90 seconds into the restart. Havertz fed Odegaard and released Saka, who had moved to the right edge of the penalty area.
Using his weaker right foot, the 22-year-old shot past Trafford at his near post and into the roof of the net.
The news got even worse for Burnley when Ramsey injured his knee just before the hour after being challenged by Odegaard and needed prolonged on-field treatment before being carried off in pain.
Burnley remain 19th in the Premier League and are winless in eight games in all competitions.
Craig Bellamy replaced Vincent Kompany, who is serving a suspension on the wing, and saw the Clarets sink to a heavy defeat.
Jay Rodriguez replaced Burnley and Arsenal further increased their goal difference with a fourth after 66 minutes.
Havertz’s shot was blocked by Hannes Delcroix and Trossard sent the ball for the first time into the corner. It meant Arsenal had scored with the first four shots on target of the game and took their goal difference in their five league games this year to 20-2.
With Wednesday’s Champions League match in Porto in mind, Arteta was able to eliminate Saka, Ben White and Trossard with almost a quarter of the match remaining.
That didn’t stop Arsenal’s flow and Havertz added a fifth after another Burnley disaster. Jakub Kiwior’s shot went over Dara O’Shea’s head and as Delcroix moved in to cover Havertz, the German fired at him before curling a low shot past Trafford.