Another clean sheet, another goal and another Gabriel Magalhaes (£6.5m) returns: Arsenal’s latest win, their ninth straight win in all competitions, was predictably routine.
Here are our Scout Notes from the Gunners’ 2-0 win over Burnley.
GYOKERES INJURY UPDATE AFTER “EXCEPTIONAL” VIEW
What has not become standard practice is a Viktor Gyokeres (£9.0m) goal; he had not scored in five league games before Saturday’s trip to Turf Moor.
But the Swede was in the right place at the right time to nod in Gabriel’s return for yet another Arsenal goal. That’s their 10th in as many Game Weeks.
Some will shout ‘flat-track bully’ and that may be a fair comment. His four goals in 2025/26 all came against bottom-five teams.
But this was probably Gyokeres’ best all-round game of the season, with his clutch play as impressive as his poaching. Twice he sat down Bukayo Saka (£10.1m) away for big chances, while his pass across the pitch resulted in Arsenal’s second goal.
So it was Sod’s law that he had to leave during half time.
“We had to take him off because he was feeling a bit gnarly and muscled, so we’ll have to wait and see.
“Before that, I think it was one of the best games he has played. I think his performance overall was exceptional, part of the [first] goal.
“Everything [about it]. His high pressing, his position, his touches, his way of playing, the way he linked the play together, the way he took us out of this situation and into moments of transition. A lot of. I think he was at a really good time. It’s a shame he felt something.” – Mikel Arteta
Arteta added Martin Zubimendi (£5.5m) also “asked to be subbed” with a muscle problem.
AND SAKA MUST SCORE!
Saka’s two openings may not have been Gordon Smith-level chances, but they certainly were Opta-rated ‘large’.
The winger was clean through twice, and twice Martin Dubravka (£4.0m) fended him off. While the first attempt was tame, Dubravka’s save for the second attempt was excellent.
You obviously don’t get any points for missed big opportunities in this game. But the consolation is that at least he got into these goal-scoring positions; his last ‘big chance’ in open play came in Gameweek 2.
RICE RISES
Declan Rice (£6.7m) is now second in the FPL midfielders points table after bowing out in his sixth attacking return of the season. Leandro Trossard (£6.9 million), starting his sixth consecutive league match and having previously seen a shot clear the line, provided the assist.
That was only the fourth time Rice has scored in the 2025/2026 season, so we don’t expect the goals to come.
However, he is an excellent corner kicker and it was his quick delivery that Gabriel nodded for Gyokeres to score. Rice is Arsenal’s leading chance creator this season, with seventeen.
The England midfielder also achieved defensive contribution points (DefCon) for the third time this season (all away from home).
Above: Rice crossed the 12-contribution threshold on Saturday and not far doubled that
ANOTHER CLEAN SHEET AS DEFENDERS THREATEN AGAIN
David Raya (£5.8m) didn’t muddy his gloves as Arsenal secured their seventh clean sheet of the season. In fact, he has only had to make one save in the last four Gameweeks.
The Gunners only conceded three shots all match, the last of which was the final kick of the match: Marcus Edwards Free kick (£4.7m) that hit the post. Luis Florentino (£5.0m) was deemed to have had a ‘great chance’ with a header, but in reality he reached for the ball behind him. It would have taken a Haaland-level neck-muscle exercise to get it on target.
Clean sheets clearly mean a lot to Arteta. The Arsenal boss pointed to a passage of play in stoppage time, when the entire Gunners squad pelted back from a corner to stop a Burnley breakaway.
“Well, I think the spirit is another action at the end, after a corner from Declan that Ethan doesn’t win the game there and you see ten players sprinting 80 meters. I mean, we play with that desire, with that focus, with that discipline. We will win a lot of games.” – Mikel Arteta
While Raya’s ceiling is often six points, the defenders in front of him provide extras. Gabriel claimed another attacking return as he collected DefCon points for the fourth time in 2025/26. Few defenders managed to do that against Burnley.
Above: Gabriel is averaging 9.5 defensive contributions per game this season
Jurriën Hout (£6.1 million) and Riccardo Calafiori (£5.8m) also popped up in prime goal-scoring positions in the Burnley box.
It was another early withdrawal for Calafiori, his seventh of the 2025/26 season (no defender is out anymore). As Captain Mal notes, it’s good for the zeros, but not so much for the add-ons.
CREDIT FOR BURNLEY AS FOSTER ABSENCE EXPLAINED
While Arsenal dominated in the first half on Saturday, credit went to Burnley for fighting back.
They may not have landed many blows against their visitors, but they limited the league leaders to four tries with a low xG in the second half.
They have been particularly effective on home soil, conceding just four goals in five games at Turf Moor.
Axel Tuanzebe (£3.9m), FPL’s cheapest starting defender, registered DefCon points for the second time in four appearances.
There was none Lyle Foster (£5.0 million), with the striker missing out due to illness.
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