Three things we learned from Arsenal win as defence sets record and Declan Rice makes case in midfield debate | OneFootball

Viktor Gyokeres also shows considerable improvement as summer signing ends his Premier League goal drought

Arsenal moved seven points clear at the top of the Premier League by beating Burnley.

Arsenal’s defence was, once again, in fine form as they kept their seventh clean sheet in a row.

Simon Collings was at Turf Moor to see Arsenal in action..

Gyokeres enjoys his best half

The Swede has come under plenty of scrutiny since his summer move to Arsenal, but this was an afternoon that underlined how he is improving every week.

It was the striker’s overall game, however, that caught the eye and this was undoubtedly his best performance in an Arsenal shirt.

Premier League goal drought over: Viktor Gyokeres

Getty Images

The only disappointment was that it only lasted 45 minutes, because he came off at half time for Mikel Merino.

Gyokeres led the line well before that and brought others into play, with his pass in the build-up to the Gunners’ second goal a thing of beauty.

Arsenal hit Burnley on the counter from a long throw and, while Leandro Trossard got the assist, it was Gyokeres who really made the goal.

The Swede found Trossard with a perfect cross-field pass that split the retreating Burnley defence in half.

Rice runs the show

A running debate this season has been who is the best midfielder in the Premier League.

Chelsea’s Moises Caicedo has been the pick of the bunch for some, while Paul Scholes recently threw his weight behind Sandro Tonali of Newcastle.

Watching him today, though, it was hard to think of anyone that is performing better than Rice right now.

The England star summed up Arsenal’s dominance at Turf Moor and he ran the midfield.

His goal came after he ran basically the length of the pitch to get on the end of Trossard’s cross from the left flank.

Declan Rice was excellent in Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Burnley

Getty Images

Rice has evolved into a player that can make an impact at both ends of the pitch, with his set-pieces just another weapon in his arsenal.

They were once again on point today and there was more than a hint of irony in the Arsenal fans singing “set-piece, again, ole!” before Rice swung in the corner for the opening goal.

Imagine them chanting that in the days of Arsene Wenger.

Defence continues to set records

Is there anyone in football with an easier job than David Raya?

That is written with tongue firmly in cheek, but the Arsenal goalkeeper must relish playing behind a defence like this one.

For the seventh game in a row, the Gunners kept a clean sheet - and they did it without conceding a single shot on target.

Burnley had three efforts all game and the closest they came was in the last minute of the game, when Marcus Edwards’ free-kick hit the post.

Other than that, the hosts created nothing - which has been the story of Arsenal’s season when it comes to defending.

David Raya celebrates withJurrien Timber as Arsenal record another clean sheet

Arsenal FC via Getty Images

In their last four Premier League games, Arsenal have conceded just one shot on target.

The clean sheet, here, meant another record for this remarkable defence.

They have now matched George Graham’s famous team, who hold the club record for the most successive wins without conceding in all competitions - seven between September and October 1987.