Burnley 0-5 Arsenal: Player ratings from Gunners' emphatic win over struggling Clarets

Arsenal maintained the pressure in the Premier League title race thanks to a 5-0 win at Burnley on Saturday, February 17. A goal from Martin Odegaard, two from Bukayo Saka and further finishes from Leandro Trossard and Kai Havertz, were enough to secure all three points away from home.

Fresh from putting six past West Ham at the London Stadium, Arsenal arrived at Turf Moor with plenty of confidence. Rather than reckless swagger, that belief was personified by composed efficiency in the final third, summed up by Odegaard's typically classy fourth-minute opener.

The goal prompted an imperious 15-minute spell from the visitors, before the first half descended into more rough and ready fare. Tactical fouls, offside calls and misplaced passes became common from both teams, before Saka reasserted Arsenal's superiority by finding the net from the penalty spot on 41 minutes.

Saka's goal made the second half more of a saunter for the Gunners. The pressure being off allowed for some Champagne football, perosnified by sweet strikes from Saka, Trossard and Havertz.

Here are the Arsenal player ratings.

Goalkeeper & Defenders

David Raya (GK) - 7/10 - Standing between the sticks and facing down a Burnley side struggling for fluency in attacking areas wasn't exactly a taxing afternoon's work for David Raya. Still, Mikel Arteta's hand-chosen goalkeeper handled his responsibilities well, staying focused to save well from Wilson Odobert, as well as distributing the ball to a decent standard.

Ben White (RB) - 7/10 - Being wrestled to the ground in the box defined Ben White's opening 45 minutes against the Clarets. When he was vertical, Arsenal's capable and versatile right-back was a solid citizen in both build-up play and the modest rearguard action the away team was occasionally forced to perform.

William Saliba (CB) - 5/10 - A strangely subdued William Saliba muddled his way through a mistake-prone first-half performance. Arsenal's best athlete at the back seems to plod his way across the Turf Moor pitch. Saliba's not often beaten for pace, but he needed help from Jakub Kiwior and Declan Rice to stop David Datro Fofana on more than one occasion. Fortunately, a Saliba off day is a rarity.

Gabriel Magalhaes (CB) - 7/10 - While his central defensive partner looked off the pace, Gabriel Magalhaes was a model of stability. The Brazilian stayed sensible on the deck, not sliding into challenges. He was also strong in the air against Burnley striker Zeki Amdouni. Another stable day for Arsenal's Mr. Consistency.

Jakub Kiwior (LB) - 8/10 - Covering for Oleksandr Zinchenko isn't easy, but Jakub Kiwior brought more stability at the back. His greater defensive awareness showed up when he got around on the cover to bail Saliba out against Fofana in the first half. More smart covering from the Poland international, this time to shepherd the ball out in second-half stoppage time, denied Burnley a consolation.

Kiwior also wisely kept things simple in possession, allowing the more progressive White to play the Zinchenko role on the ball.

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