There was no room for apprehension. On Monday night, Mikel Arteta’s squad faced Burnley, currently positioned 19th in the Premier League standings, with a singular objective: to clinch all three points. Any alternative outcome would have left them vulnerable to Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, who trailed the Gunners by a mere two points entering the evening’s crucial fixture.

True to their season-long form, Bukayo Saka and his teammates seized the lead from a corner kick. Rising above the opposition, Kai Havertz powerfully headed the ball past Max Weiss, who remained rooted to his line in the 37th minute. For the remainder of the match, Arsenal maintained significant control, particularly in terms of possession (62% compared to Burnley’s 38%), though they didn’t create a multitude of clear-cut chances. It’s worth noting that Havertz, the evening’s goal-scorer, narrowly avoided a red card in the 69th minute following a challenge that saw his studs connect with Lesley Ugochukwu’s calf.