Arsenal coasted to a 2-0 victory over Burnley

Viktor Gyokeres and Declan Rice were on target as Premier League leaders Arsenal coasted to a 2-0 victory over Burnley at Turf Moor on Saturday.

Gyokeres headed home a fourth league goal of the campaign from a typically brilliant Gunners set-piece to get Mikel Arteta's men up and running.

Rice was influential in that opener and doubled the visitors' lead 10 minutes before the break with a thumping header from a fine Arsenal breakaway.

The second half was a noticeably quieter affair, but the visitors never really looked like letting the lead slip after a dominant opening period despite Burnley attempting to up the pressure.

Arsenal have now won five straight league matches and have a seven-point cushion over AFC Bournemouth, while Burnley are 17th, four points above the drop zone.

How the match unfolded

Arteta’s side displayed their set-piece prowess in the 14th minute when Rice's deep corner was knocked back by Gabriel Magalhaes and nodded in on the goalline by Gyokeres.

Martin Dubravka had to punch another Rice corner off the line and stood up well one-on-one to Bukayo Saka, who was then thwarted by the Burnley goalkeeper a second time before Leandro Trossard's follow-up was blocked on the line by Axel Tuanzebe.

Arsenal got their second in the 35th minute, though, when after Arsenal had cleared a Burnley long throw, Gyokeres played an outstanding cross-field pass to Trossard, who stood up a wonderful delivery for Rice to powerfully head in.

Gyokeres did not return for the second half, and the loss of that focal point meant Arsenal were not quite as effective in the final third after the break.

Trossard tested Dubravka with a low drive, while Florentino headed over from Maxime Esteve's clever nod back in a rare Burnley attack.

Substitute Christian Norgaard was also denied by Dubravka before Marcus Edwards crashed a last-gasp free-kick against a post for Burnley.

At times simple, at times glorious from dominant Arsenal

Prior to this game, 11 of Arsenal's 16 Premier League goals had arrived via set-pieces, so Parker will have been disappointed with the ease they made that 12 inside 15 minutes.

While there was a beautiful simplicity to Arsenal's opening goal, there was a real majesty to their second that showcased Arteta's side are way more than just flat-track bullies.

Gyokeres had already combined twice to play in Saka, who on another day might have scored both, prior to delivering a stunning pass to Trossard – making his 100th Premier League appearance for Arsenal – to pick out Rice.

What will please Arteta most is the influence of his key players. The Gunners paid big money to sign Gyokeres to make a difference in these sorts of games, and the only disappointment for the visitors would be his second-half absence.

But Trossard was a real tormentor on his landmark appearance, while Rice's growing standing as one of the best midfielders in the world was only enhanced with a typically all-action performance.

Victory in Lancashire also marked a fourth straight league win without conceding – a feat they last achieved in 2014 when Arteta was a player – and they have the chance to continue that streak against Sunderland, a game that follows their midweek trip to Slavia Prague in the UEFA Champions League.

Shot-shy Burnley fail to test Arsenal

Burnley have endured a couple of near misses against some of the Premier League's heavyweights this season, losing narrowly to both Manchester United and Liverpool earlier in the campaign.

However, any hopes of frustrating title contenders Arsenal evaporated with the simplest of openers that belies the sort of defensive solidity Burnley have so often displayed under Scott Parker.

From there, it felt like the Clarets were constantly fighting a losing battle. They were hassled, harried, and outmuscled by an Arsenal side they could scarcely lay a glove on.

Indeed, they failed to register a single shot on goal during an opening period in which, truthfully, the main saving grace was that the scoreline was only 2-0, with Dubravka coming up big for his side.

Edwards' free-kick at the very end of the game was ultimately the best they had to show for their efforts, but Parker will be far from deflated as he will be well aware that this is one of the toughest assignments his side will face.

Back-to-back wins over Leeds United and Wolverhampton Wanderers prior to this fixture feel crucial in the context of the campaign, and Parker will be keen to get back to winning ways against struggling West Ham United next Saturday.