Tross does it’ard way
LEANDRO GOES IN WHERE IT HURTS AS GUNNERS GO SECOND
MIKEL ARTETA ticked another box as Arsenal supremo – thanks to brilliant David Raya and brave-in-theextreme Leandro Trossard.
Spanish keeper Raya justified his continued controversial selection over Aaron Ramsdale with a couple of stunning saves.
And Belgium striker Trossard put his body and soul on the line to give them a decisive lead on the stroke of half-time.
All of which, allied to William Saliba and Oleksandr Zinchenko’s second-half strikes, gave Arteta his first home triumph over Burnley in three attempts.
Only a small box ticked, maybe, but the result puts Arsenal – who had Fabio Vieira shown a straight late red – just behind leaders Man City on goal difference.
Amid the furious fallout from their defeat at St James’ Park last Saturday, Arsenal’s mediocre display had been hidden.
Yet this appeared a home banker with Vincent Kompany’s basement boys still winless.
If the Gunners needed extra motivation, though, news of Tottenham’s defeat in the dying seconds at Wolves did the trick.
The hated neighbours would not be top overnight after all.
One positive in Burnley’s worst start to a season since 1906 is they often score early. They served warning after eight minutes when striker Zeki Amdouni warmed Raya’s hands from 20 yards.
Gunners skipper Martin Odegaard was missing for a third successive league game and the Norwegian’s subtle, gliding combos – particularly with Bukayo Saka – were again conspicuous by their absence.
Cue Saka, shrugging off yet another injury scare to crack the crossbar, courtesy of a left-foot curler that caught keeper James Trafford’s fingertips en route.
Then the England man’s corner on 30 minutes was perfect for unmarked Kai Havertz... to hopelessly head three yards wide from only three yards out. What else did we expect? And Arsenal would have paid an immediate price but for Raya’s lightning reflexes denying Johan Berg Gudmundsson’s breakaway effort before Trafford pulled off a beauty from a Trossard strike.
We seemed destined to be goalless at the interval until Trossard put his physical welfare at risk to bundle in Saka’s headed pass at the far post – despite the threat of Trafford crashing into him.
Talk about a deadly duo. Each of bruised Trossard’s seven goals in 2023-24 have been irrepressible Saka’s creations.
In the 55th minute Takehiro Tomiyasu was skinned by Luca Koleosho whose cross was driven in by Josh Brownhill via a wicked deflection to equalise.
But Arsenal responded in emphatic fashion, with two defenders putting the result to bed.
Firstly, Saliba headed in Saka’s corner before Zinchenko volleyed in with balletic poise.