Burnley 0-5 Arsenal: Bukayo Saka scores twice as Gunners close gap at the top

Bukayo Saka scored twice as Arsenal continued their blistering goalscoring form to thrash Burnley and close the gap at the top of the Premier League to two points.

Saka converted from the spot after Lorenz Assignon fouled Leandro Trossard in the box.

The England forward got his second just after the restart, latching on to a clever Odegaard pass then cutting inside and rifling a shot into the roof of the net.

Kai Havertz’s scuffed effort was blocked in the box but Trossard was alert to curl in for his third goal in as many league games.

Jakub Kiwior’s long throw down the line then found an unmarked Havertz, who ghosted in behind the defence and drilled past home goalkeeper James Trafford to complete a comprehensive win for the Gunners.

Arsenal, who have 21 goals in five straight wins, move two points behind leaders Liverpool, while Burnley remain in the relegation zone.

And the in-form Gunners may even have scored more at Turf Moor, with Trossard going close on two occasions before he eventually found the net.

Havertz continually caused problems by picking up pockets of space with his movement off the ball while Saka, Trossard and Martinelli interchanged in the box to regularly threaten.

Clarets suffer another damaging home defeat

Burnley were comprehensively beaten after putting in a dismal display at home, with manager Vincent Kompany watching despondently in the stands because of a touchline ban.

The Clarets did not attempt a shot on target in a match for the first time since Boxing Day and were under pressure from the first minute.

Kompany’s side have conceded 26 first-half goals in 25 games, more than any other team in the Premier League this season.

Being caught out by a long throw for Arsenal’s fifth goal and failing to track Havertz’s run into the box summed up the woeful defending that means Burnley – seven points from safety – are fighting against the odds to remain in the division.

To compound their misery, midfielder Aaron Ramsey was stretchered off after suffering a seemingly serious knee injury and requiring oxygen in the 63rd minute.

More to follow.

Player of the match

SakaBukayo Saka

Burnley

1. Squad number1Player nameTrafford

2. Squad number23Player nameFofana

3. Squad number20Player nameAssignon

4. Squad number2Player nameO’Shea

5. Squad number8Player nameBrownhill

6. Squad number21Player nameA Ramsey

7. Squad number33Player nameEsteve

8. Squad number47Player nameOdobert

9. Squad number16Player nameBerge

10. Squad number25Player nameAmdouni

11. Squad number44Player nameDelcroix

12. Squad number9Player nameRodríguez

13. Squad number34Player nameBruun Larsen

14. Squad number7Player nameGudmundsson

15. Squad number3Player nameTaylor

16. Squad number22Player nameVitinho