Nervy Arsenal extend Premier League lead, Burnley score five

Wolverhampton Wanderers’ English goalkeeper #25 Dan Bentley punches the ball to save from the head of Arsenal’s English striker #14 Eddie Nketiah during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Emirates Stadium in London on December 2, 2023. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP)

Arsenal survived a late scare against Wolves on Saturday to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League as Burnley lifted themselves off the bottom with a 5-0 trouncing of 10-man Sheffield United.

Mikel Arteta’s Gunners, brimming with confidence after their 6-0 hammering of Lens in the Champions League in midweek, raced into a 2-0 lead at the Emirates within 13 minutes.

Bukayo Saka opened the scoring and Arsenal doubled their lead when Oleksandr Zinchenko cut the ball back for Martin Odegaard, who picked out the bottom corner.

The home side came agonisingly close to a third goal when Gabriel Martinelli cannoned a shot off the post towards the end of the first half.

But they failed to put the game to bed and were made to sweat when Wolves forward Matheus Cunha found the top corner in the 86th minute to set up a tense finale.

Despite the scare, Arsenal, last year’s runners-up, held on for their 10th win in 14 league games, which moves them four points clear of champions Manchester City, who host Tottenham on Sunday.

Five-star Burnley

Vincent Kompany’s Burnley hammered fellow strugglers Sheffield United 5-0 at Turf Moor.

Jay Rodriguez fired the home side ahead with just 15 seconds on the clock — the fastest goal of the season so far.

Jacob Bruun Larsen extended their lead shortly afterwards, racing onto Dara O’Shea’s long ball down the right and keeping his composure to slot past goalkeeper Wes Foderingham.

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