Remember the fallout from Arsenal’s FA Cup exit at home to Liverpool? It was only six matches ago after all, and seemingly irrefutable evidence that a fruitless season awaited Mikel Arteta’s side unless they signed a proven goalscorer. One did not arrive, yet 21 Arsenal goals have in the five games since. Burnley were the latest to suffer from the rampant, creative energy that has catapulted Arsenal back into title contention.
With Martin Ødegaard conducting another irrepressible away performance Arsenal made it five successive Premier League wins in some style. Their captain, Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard and Kai Havertz all registered as the visitors scored with their first five shots on target. The range of goalscorers reflected a team taking responsibility for its recovery. Arsenal have won the first five games of a calendar year for the first time in their history. Burnley’s only cheer on a deflating afternoon came when the PA announced the cancellation of the late train taking Arsenal fans back to London. “Just not good enough,” was Vincent Kompany’s verdict on his team, not the trains. “Arsenal were better than us in every department.”
