Burnley 0-2 Arsenal Player Ratings: Declan Rice Rated 9/10 as He Shines in 2-0 Victory

From our perspective, this was a stroll in the park for Arsenal. They visited Turf Moor and left with a comfortable 2-0 victory over a struggling Burnley side. The Premier League leaders were simply a class above.

The Gunners didn't waste any time. Viktor Gyökeres headed them into the lead just 14 minutes in. It was a classic poacher's finish from a corner. What stood out to us was how easily Arsenal controlled the tempo after that.

The game was effectively over before halftime. Declan Rice, who was immense all game, popped up with a header of his own in the 35th minute. This match felt like a training exercise at times. Burnley huffed and puffed, but they barely laid a glove on the visitors.

Here are Burnley Vs Arsenal Player Ratings

Arsenal Player Ratings vs Burnley

Here are Arsenal Player Ratings vs Burnley

Goalkeeper

David Raya - 6.5: Had one of the easiest afternoons of his career. He barely had a save to make all game. What we noticed was his distribution seemed a little off, with only 52% of his passes finding a teammate. Still, he commanded his area well and claimed a high ball confidently. A very quiet day.

Defenders

William Saliba - 7.0: The usual Rolls-Royce performance from the Frenchman. He was so calm and composed on the ball, completing 95% of his passes. He won most of his duels and gave the Burnley forwards absolutely nothing. It's the standard we've come to expect from him now.

Gabriel Magalhães - 7.5: A rock at the back and an asset in attack. He provided the assist for the opening goal which was a nice bonus. Defensively, he was a beast making nine clearances. The yellow card was a minor blemish on an otherwise dominant display. He was a true warrior out there.

Jurriën Timber - 6.5: A mixed bag from our perspective. He was solid enough defensively and wasn't really tested. However he should have scored, missing a clear header from a corner. It was a decent outing but lacked any real standout moments for us.

Riccardo Calafiori - 7.0: Looked very lively down the left side before his substitution. He forced a good save from the keeper with a powerful shot. He was also diligent with his defensive duties, making six clearances. A very encouraging performance that was unfortunately cut short.

Midfielders

Declan Rice - 9.0: Simply sensational. He was everywhere. Our man of the match without a shadow of a doubt. He completely ran the show from midfield, making 9 ball recoveries and 5 tackles. To top it all off, he scored a fantastic header to seal the victory. An absolute masterclass and the highest-rated player on the pitch.

Martín Zubimendi - 7.0: The perfect foil for Rice. He kept possession ticking over nicely and controlled the game's tempo. While he did lose the ball a few too many times for our liking, he was a steady and reliable presence. Did his job with minimum fuss before being taken off.

Eberechi Eze - 6.5: He showed flashes of his quality, drawing fouls in dangerous areas. He worked hard and had a shot blocked. But ultimately, he was a bit on the periphery of the game. We expected more from him to be honest.

Forwards

Bukayo Saka - 6.0: A really uncharacteristic and frustrating day for the starboy. He missed two big chances that you'd normally expect him to bury. His decision-making in the final third seemed a bit off. Just one of those days for him, it happens.

Viktor Gyökeres - 8.0: What a first half he had. He took his goal brilliantly with a sharp header. He was a constant menace, creating three chances for his teammates. We were genuinely surprised to see him substituted at halftime, he was on fire.

Leandro Trossard - 7.5: A very creative and influential performance. He delivered a perfect cross for Rice's goal and was a constant threat. He lost possession a bit too frequently, but his positive play made things happen for Arsenal. A good day's work.

Substitutes

Mikel Merino came on at halftime but wasn't on the pitch long enough to make a significant impact or earn a rating.

Manager

M. Arteta - 7.5: His tactics were spot on. His team asserted their dominance from the first whistle and never looked back. The result was never in doubt. The only confusing decision was substituting Gyökeres at the break, but it didn't affect the outcome. A job well done.

Burnley Player Ratings vs Arsenal

Here are Burnley Player Ratings vs Arsenal

Goalkeeper

Martin Dúbravka - 7.5: He was the main reason this wasn't a complete humiliation. He made five saves, some of which were excellent stops from Saka. There was nothing he could do about the two well-placed headers. He can hold his head high after that performance.

Defenders

Kyle Walker - 5.5: Had a torrid time against Arsenal's fluid attack. He was dribbled past three times and looked off the pace. His use of the ball was also poor, losing it 22 times. A day to forget for the experienced defender.

Quilindschy Hartman - 6.0: He was okay, nothing more nothing less. He stuck to his tasks and made a couple of important tackles. However, he offered no threat going forward. An average display in a well-beaten team.

Maxime Estève - 6.0: A difficult afternoon. An error he made led directly to a shot which is a cardinal sin for a defender. His passing was neat, but he was part of a backline that was pulled apart too easily. He struggled.

Axel Tuanzebe - 8.0: Burnley's best player by a country mile. He was an absolute warrior, throwing his body on the line time and time again. He made a staggering 14 clearances, including one off the line. Without him, Arsenal could have had four or five.

Josh Laurent - 5.5: It's tough to play in defence against this Arsenal side. He looked out of his depth. He lost most of his duels and gave away fouls. It was no surprise to see him substituted.

Midfielders

Lesley Ugochukwu - 5.0: The game completely passed him by. He barely got a touch of the ball and was dominated by the opposition midfield. Lost nearly every duel he competed in. He was a ghost out there, a really poor performance.

Jaidon Anthony - 5.5: Another player who just couldn't get into the game. He failed to make any impact in the final third. He was substituted after an anonymous hour on the pitch. A disappointing display.

Florentino - 6.0: You can't fault his effort. He ran his socks off trying to close down space. His passing was tidy and he made a few tackles. However, it was a thankless task against such superior opposition.

Josh Cullen - 6.5: The captain led by example with his work rate. He put himself about, making tackles and trying to disrupt Arsenal's rhythm. He deservedly got a yellow card for a cynical foul. He never gave up, you have to respect that.

Forwards

Zian Flemming - 5.5: He was completely starved of service. He battled for long balls but was fighting a losing battle against Saliba and Gabriel. A very frustrating and isolated afternoon for the striker. Picked up a booking for his troubles.

Substitutes

Jacob Bruun Larsen and Loum Tchaouna entered the fray but were unable to change the course of the match.

Manager

S. Parker - 5.0: His team were set up to defend but were breached far too easily. They offered next to nothing in attack. His substitutions had no impact on the game's outcome. It was a tough watch, and he seemed to have no answers.

Sportsdunia's Player of the match is Declan Rice