Arsenal don’t give a damn
It was fitting that the soundtrack of Arsenal’s emergence on the Turf Moor pitch evoked a spaghetti western. Mikel Arteta’s team have been walking around the city like anti-heroes who don’t care about anything that gets in their way. Duels are there to be won. The bounty is there to be hunted. They will use their cunning – ruthlessly and unstoppably – for their own reward.
Former Arsenal manager George Graham loved westerns. He encouraged his team to approach away games like a raid. Come in, do your business and get out of there. Mikel Arteta’s men came to Burnley and emulated a record Graham’s side once set by making it seven straight wins without conceding a goal. Once again, they didn’t even give up a shot on target. This is serious business.
The work was essentially done in a first half of dominant determination. There were the main characteristics of this campaign: a fixed objective, a fierce commitment to defending one’s own net, and a collective desire to subdue one’s adversaries. “I think the first half was one of the best we have played,” Arteta said. “I scored two goals, generated two or three other big chances and didn’t concede anything.”
This race, characterized by these inflexible habits, won’t last forever, but for now, they approach each competition with this mindset.
For all the emphasis on their steel (and we have to go back to 1903 for a run of longer shutouts), it’s important to recognize that Arsenal are setting the tone in the Premier League at a time when they have been metaphorically chained to a pile of attacking injuries.
David Raya celebrates after Declan Rice scores Arsenal’s second goal (George Wood/Getty Images)
There is good news in the near future with the returns of Noni Madueke, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Jesus not far away, and with Kai Havertz closing in. They have had to forge the story of this season without them for long periods so far, not counting injuries to Bukayo Saka and, more recently, Gabriel Martinelli.
It was therefore worrying that Viktor Gyokeres suddenly came off at half-time, especially as he produced his most complete performance in a first half in which he was central to both goals and in creating other chances, thanks to his intense running and desire to influence the match. It seemed like a day off in the middle of the week did him some good and he was fully committed from the start.
In the 14th minute, Burnley were unhappy with the award of a corner, and given the likelihood of what could happen next, that’s understandable. Rice whipped in one of his specials, Gabriel came in to knock the ball away and Gyokeres positioned himself just in front of the goal line to nod with relish.
In a clever twist, Arsenal then scored from another dead ball variation, but this time it was Burnley’s. The home team played a long pass in a promising position, but in the blink of an eye it turned into a devastating counter-attack.
Gabriel cleared the ball with the desire for it to show that all is won in either box. Saka glanced over a bursting Gyokeres, who showcased a different side to his game with a thumping crossfield pass as Arsenal rushed forward. Leandro Trossard was on the receiving end, and he delayed, glanced and picked out Rice in power with a header. He looked up to the sky to celebrate his recently deceased Aunt Beverley.
Rice was a marvel throughout the match. It was an exemplary box-to-box display. He would win the ball for fun, effortlessly transforming into space, with an eagle eye in passing, always available, constantly encouraging his teammates.
He wasn’t the only one. When Arsenal regrouped before the restart, it was Trossard – now the only striker still available this season – who spoke from the heart to keep the team on track.
Arsenal slowed when Gyokeres was replaced by Mikel Merino, less suited to the bulldozing runs and muscle press that caused Burnley problems. But they could count on rearguard control to keep most problems at bay.
Gyokeres scored, but had to be sent off at half-time due to injury (Peter Powell/AFP via Getty Images)
This represented Arsenal’s attitude when Burnley had a few moments late in the match. Arteta described a situation in which the opposition managed to escape from an Arsenal corner: “You see 10 players sprinting for 80 meters. I mean, we play with that desire, with that concentration, with that discipline, we will win a lot of games.”
Then, in the final seconds, it was instructive to see the reaction when Hannibal hit a post with one of the last actions of the match. A relaxation, certainly, but one which maintained Arsenal’s pride in keeping its defensive platform intact. David Raya and his defenders celebrated intensely.
Rice summed up what it feels like to have these defenders at the base of the team: “They live and breathe defending and every duel means something to them. They are something special.”
Arteta’s points chasers continue their journey this week, heading to Prague in the Champions League before preparing for a raid at Sunderland next weekend. They will strive to stay strong and stick together to get what they want.