September 18, (THEWILL) – Arsenal continued from their first win of the season last weekend with another 1-nil victory at Turf Moor against Burnley, as Martin Odegaard’s sublime first-half free-kick secured all three points for the Gunners to continue their early season revival.
Last weekend, Mikel Arteta’s charges lifted the gloom by getting their season up and running with a win over Norwich City. On Saturday, away from home, they doubled their points tally even if both victories have each been by the same 1-0 scoreline.
The goal was the first for Odegaard since returning to the club on a permanent deal from former  La Liga champions Real Madrid. For Arsenal, it represented a moment of class that had been badly lacking in a flat first half on both sides.
The hosts began well with chances as early as the 12th minute when Ashley Barnes put a free header wide from 12 yards out. The plan of the Gunners’ side seemed to be to break the Clarets’ formation down, but even that mark was a struggle to reach.
The visitors’ persistence finally paid off on the half hour mark after Bukayo Saka was upended by Ashley Westwood as the youngster surged towards the penalty area. Odegaard then curled a sumptuous left-foot strike into the top-left corner from around 20 yards out for only the second Arsenal goal of the season.
Arsenal had glimpses of goal in the rest of first half with Emile Smith Rowe sending a first-time shot just over the crossbar after Nicolas Pepe picked him out. Arsenal also came back in the second half looking to double their tally, but again Smith Rowe failed to finish off a slick move.
It gave Burnley the leave to apply pressure on the Gunners early in the second half. Sean Dyche introduced Maxwel Cornet for his Burnley debut along with Matej Vydra 11 minutes after the break and he came close to an equaliser soon after being introduced.
Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale had to be alert to the threat and displayed excellent reflexes by reacting fast and tipping the Ivory Coast international’s shot from inside the box over the bar for a corner kick, which was one of the reasons he finished as man of the match.
There was a moment of contention in the 68th minute when Vydra was awarded a spot-kick as Ramsdale was adjudged to have brought him down following a poor backpass from Ben White, but referee Anthony Taylor ruled the keeper had touched the ball after checking the pitchside monitor for a review.
Arsenal survived the battling victory with a very slim margin even if the team is still finding goal-scoring difficult to come by. But, digging deep to earn another clean sheet will be enough consolation for the men from the Emirates.
It was otherwise for the Clarets. Their club-record run of games without a home win in the league stands at 13 and they are second-bottom with just one point from five matches. The pressure on Dyche will be massive ahead of their next English Premier League tie against Brendan Rodgers’ Leicester.
Arteta has one equally massive encounter ahead of his goal-shy side. They go against Tottenham Hotspur in the first North London Derby of the season at home in the Emirates. In preseason, they lost to Nuno Espirito Santo’s side but will be geared to ensure victory at home this time.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
