Relentless Arsenal beat Burnley to stretch Premier League lead

BURNLEY, England :Clinical Arsenal moved seven points clear at the top of the Premier League with a straightforward 2-0 victory over Burnley at Turf Moor as their mastery of set pieces again proved irresistible on Saturday.

Viktor Gyokeres opened the scoring in the 14th minute from yet another corner routine involving Declan Rice and Gabriel, with the Swede touching in from close range.

Arsenal were in cruise control in the 35th minute, this time from open play, as a sweeping counter-attack ended with Rice thumping a header past Burnley goalkeeper Martin Dubravka.

Burnley did not manage a goal attempt in the first half and, while they offered more of a threat after the break, Arsenal eased to a seventh consecutive clean sheet in all competitions.

Arsenal have 25 points from 10 games, with Bournemouth, who play on Sunday, second on 18. Burnley are 17th with 10 points.

After agonising near misses in several title pursuits, Arsenal's efficiency at accumulating points is beginning to look a little ominous for those teams standing in their way.

Arteta's side have perfected the art of doing enough, even without being especially eye-catching, and that knack was apparent again against Scott Parker's Burnley.

From their opening nine games, only five of Arsenal's 16 Premier League goals came from open play, with nine from set pieces and two from the penalty spot.

Corners have been a particular speciality and that was the case again on Saturday as Arsenal were rewarded for a dominant opening against a timid Burney.

Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard had already gone close for the visitors when Rice swung over a deep corner and defender Gabriel got on the end of it to turn the ball back across goal for Gyokeres who could not miss.

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