Viktor Gyokeres celebrates Arsenal’s opening goal against Burnley (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
Former Arsenal star Paul Merson today praised Gabriel Magalhaes for his role in setting up the opening goal for Viktor Gyokeres against Burnley.
The Gunners have taken an early lead at Turf Moor thanks to Gyokeres heading home from close range, with Gabriel doing excellently to get the ball back across goal after Declan Rice’s corner.
During the match on Sky Sports, Merson praised the role Gabriel played in Gyokeres’ goal, although it took him a while to work out exactly who had the contact to set up the Swedish striker.
Watch below as the pundit praised Gabriel for his “absolutely brilliant” skill as he diverted Rice’s corner into Gyokeres’ path to give him an easy finish…
“Absolutely brilliant!”
Gyokeres gives Arsenal the lead from a corner kick 👏 pic.twitter.com/OgOavWzGm0
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) November 1, 2025
Arsenal have been excellent in set pieces this season and Gabriel has so often been the goalscorer in these types of situations, although in this one he became the provider.
Viktor Gyokeres ends the Premier League goal drought
Arsenal fans will be happy to see their set pieces working again, and it will also be a relief for Mikel Arteta that his summer signing has finally found the back of the net.
The former Sporting Lisbon man recently scored a goal in the 4-0 Champions League win over Atletico Madrid, but has had a bit of a scoring drought in the Premier League.
This was Gyokeres’ fourth league goal of the campaign, but his first since the 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest in mid-September.
Arsenal will need a productive striker to help them establish themselves as title favorites as Manchester City now have Erling Haaland on fire in front of goal, while Mohamed Salah was the standout player for Liverpool as they won the league last season.
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