Match Coverage

Forget Rice and Gyokeres, another Arsenal star was quietly very good against Burnley

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Arsenal cruised past Burnley on Saturday afternoon, and one star who isn’t getting many plaudits for his performance was quietly very good.

Mikel Arteta’s side strolled to a 2-0 victory at Turf Moor, courtesy of first-half goals from Viktor Gyokeres and Declan Rice.

The result sees the Gunners move seven points clear at the top of the Premier League table after just ten matches.

While Rice and Gyokeres will get the headlines for their goals and general performances, another player deserves credit for a display that is going under the radar.

Burnley v Arsenal - Premier League
Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images

Eberechi Eze was quietly very good against Burnley

Gyokeres was excellent for Arsenal in his 45 minutes on the pitch, while Rice was also outstanding.

However, neither player was entirely accountable for the Gunners’ superb first-half attacking performance.

Rice helped Arteta’s team get up the pitch, and Gyokeres provided a focal point, but Eberechi Eze was the creative force who drove Arsenal forward.

The number ten was quietly at his best at Turf Moor, producing some immaculate, delicate touches. He was at the heart of several of the Gunners’ slick passing moves in the final third, while he consistently made the right decision with his final ball.

Eze has struggled at times in a central role, but he was clearly one of Arsenal’s best players on Saturday.

He’ll hope to build on this performance moving forward as he grows more accustomed to Arteta’s system and his teammates.

Eberechi Eze of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Burnley and Arsenal.
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images

Eberechi Eze’s statistics vs Burnley

Eze’s influential performance is reflected in the stats from the clash with Burnley.

The creative midfielder managed 35 touches in his 72 minutes on the pitch, clearly indicating how involved he was in everything Arsenal did.

Eberechi Eze’s Statistics vs Burnley
Minutes Played72
Shots1
Touches35
Accurate Passes21/21 (100%)
Successful Dribbles1/2 (50%)
Ground Duels Won6/9 (67%)
Fouls Won4
Recoveries4

Arteta will also be delighted with Eze’s defensive output, which has been questioned at times. Winning six out of nine ground duels and making four recoveries, the combative side of the 27-year-old’s game was impressive.

Meanwhile, he crucially won four fouls in dangerous areas through his elusiveness. This is a key facet of his game that will continue to be important for Arsenal with their set-piece prowess moving forward.