Arsenal cruise against Burnley as Man Utd held

ARSENAL brushed Burnley aside 2-0 yesterday to open up a seven-point lead at the top of the Premier League as struggling Nottingham Forest held inform Manchester United to a 2-2 draw.

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Mikel Arteta's Gunners have won five league games in a row to position themselves as firm favourites to end their painful two-decade wait to be crowned English champions.

Viktor Gyokeres headed Arsenal ahead following a Declan Rice corner in the first half at Turf Moor for his first league goal since mid-September - yet more joy for the set-piece specialists.

England midfielder Rice himself headed home to double the visitors' lead in the 35th minute and put them in total control.

"The first half was exceptional - we scored two goals and gave nothing away," Arteta told the BBC.

"That was the platform. We had to make a few changes and didn't have that much control in the second half. Defending was exceptional again, we didn't give anything."

Arsenal, who have now won nine games in a row in all competitions, have enviable options in attack but their team is built on a rock-solid defence that has conceded just three league goals in 10 games this season.