Arsenal take on Burnley on Saturday afternoon, and Paul Merson has made his prediction ahead of the clash.
The Gunners sit four points clear at the top of the Premier League table, winning seven of their opening nine matches and conceding just three goals in the process.
Mikel Arteta’s team strolled past Crystal Palace in their last league match, and the Spaniard will be desperate to see his side enjoy another serene victory when they face the Clarets.
Burnley have enjoyed some positive results in recent weeks, although they remain the worst team in the English top flight on the underlying metrics, and thus, this should be a relatively straightforward encounter for the North Londoners.
Paul Merson makes Burnley vs Arsenal prediction
Arsenal remain without their captain, Martin Odegaard, who sustained a knee injury prior to the last international break.
Meanwhile, William Saliba and Gabriel Martinelli are doubts after both players missed Wednesday night’s League Cup game against Brighton.
As for these potential absentees and the long-term absentees in Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus and Noni Madueke, Arteta should have his entire squad to pick from for the trip to Turf Moor.
Merson is confident that the Gunners will ease past the Clarets regardless of the fitness status of their squad. Writing for Sportskeeda, the pundit predicted a 2-0 victory for Arteta’s team in Lancashire.
“It all depends on how quickly Arsenal can break Burnley down,” Merson wrote.
“We saw how Liverpool struggled to do that for a long time before nicking a late win at Burnley earlier this season. Burnley have performed well at home. They sit back and play to their strengths, which is not a bad thing if you’re a newly-promoted team looking to stay up in this league.
“The way Arsenal are playing, if Burnley can even get a shot on goal, it’s a job well done! That’s how good Arsenal are.
“I expect Arsenal to win both them games and I’m not backing Liverpool to win this weekend. If City and Liverpool then take points off each other in gameweek 11, I think Arsenal will win the league quite comfortably.”
Score Prediction: Burnley 0-2 Arsenal
Paul Merson thinks the title could be ‘done and dusted’ in the next two weeks
Arsenal are now clear favourites to win the Premier League title, having built a comfortable cushion between them and their rivals.
The Gunners are six points ahead of Manchester City, seven ahead of Liverpool and eight ahead of Chelsea.
With Liverpool and City set to face each other at the Etihad next week, Arsenal could find themselves in a very commanding position heading into the next international break.
“I said on 19th September that if Arsenal get four points out of their games against Manchester City and Newcastle United, they win the league. Arsenal did it and I stand by what I said. In fact, the title race could be done and dusted in the next two weeks!
“Arsenal face Burnley and Sunderland before the international break, while Liverpool have Aston Villa and Manchester City.
“I even believe Arsenal could enjoy a good run in the Champions League because by the time it reaches the latter stages, we could be looking at a situation where they would have sealed the league title already!”
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