Mikel Arteta Praises Team's Dominant Display

Arteta hails 'exceptional' Arsenal oerformance

Mikel Arteta praises Declan Rice and Viktor Gyokeres after Arsenal's 2-0 win over Burnley, extending their lead at the top of the Premier League table.

“We started the game exceptionally well. I think the first half is one of the best that we've played, scored two goals...”

Mikel Arteta praised Arsenal's first-half display in their 2-0 win against Burnley, describing it as “one of the best” in his tenure as the team's manager. Viktor Gyokeres and Declan Rice scored the goals in the opening 45 minutes, with Gyokeres netting from a corner and Rice heading home from a cross.

The Gunners dominated the game, and their interval lead would have been more substantial if not for two excellent saves from Burnley goalkeeper Martin Dubravka, who denied Bukayo Saka twice. Arteta was full of praise for his team's performance, saying they scored two goals, created two or three big chances, and conceded nothing.

Arteta also singled out Gyokeres for special praise, saying he had an “exceptional” game before being substituted at halftime due to a muscle strain. The manager added that Gyokeres' performance was one of the best he had seen from him, highlighting his high press, positioning, touches, and ability to link play.

Burnley's manager, Scott Parker, felt that the first goal was decisive, and his team's inability to score against Arsenal's defense was a significant challenge. He praised Arsenal's delivery from set pieces and the physical threat posed by players like Gabriel.

“We started the game exceptionally well. I think the first half is one of the best that we've played, scored two goals, generated another two or three big chances and conceded nothing,” he said.

“And that was a platform, because in the second half we dropped the standards, especially with the ball, and with our intentions to play more forward. But again, defensively, we were exceptional.”

Burnley struggled to make an impact against Arsenal, failing to register a shot on goal until Florentino Luis's header in the 73rd minute. The visitors' late efforts, including a free-kick from Marcus Edwards that hit the post, were too little, too late.

Mission complete in Burnley 🫡

Highlights from our win at Turf Moor have landed 📺 pic.twitter.com/lu6ozyVuVn

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) November 1, 2025

Viktor Gyokeres broke his five-game league goal drought with a well-taken header from a corner, which also extended Arsenal's league-leading set-piece goal tally to 12, excluding penalties. The Sweden striker received special praise from manager Mikel Arteta for his performance.

However, Gyokeres's involvement 

with the team may be in doubt for Tuesday's Champions League match against Slavia Prague after he was replaced at halftime due to a muscle strain.

“I think it was one of the best games that he's played for us,” Arteta said of the summer signing from Sporting Lisbon.

“Overall, his performance was exceptional, apart from the goal, and we had to take him off because he was feeling a little niggle, muscular.

“His high press, his positioning and his touches, his threading in behind, the way he linked play, the way he gets us from this situation to transition.

“He was in a really good moment. It's a shame that he felt something.”