The stakes were incredibly high for Mikel Arteta’s squad as they faced 19th-placed Burnley on Monday night. Their objective was clear and non-negotiable: secure all three points. Anything less would have put their Premier League aspirations in jeopardy, leaving them vulnerable to Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, who were trailing the Gunners by a mere two points before this pivotal fixture.

True to their season-long form, Bukayo Saka’s teammates broke the deadlock from a corner kick. Kai Havertz rose majestically above the Burnley defence, heading past goalkeeper Max Weiss, who was rooted to his line, in the 37th minute. Following the goal, Arsenal asserted significant control over the match, boasting 62% possession compared to Burnley’s 38%. Despite their dominance, they created few clear-cut chances. A notable moment occurred in the 69th minute when Havertz, the evening’s goalscorer, narrowly avoided a red card after a challenge that saw his studs connect with Lesley Ugochukwu’s calf.