Viktor Gyokeres and Declan Rice were on target as Premier League leaders Arsenal coasted to a 2-0 triumph over Burnley at Turf Moor on Saturday.
Gyokeres headed home his fourth league goal of the campaign from a typically brilliant Gunners set-piece to get Mikel Arteta's men up and running.
Rice was influential in that opener and doubled the visitors' lead 10 minutes before the break with a thumping header from a fine Arsenal breakaway.
The second half was a noticeably quieter affair, but the visitors never really looked like letting the lead slip after a dominant opening period, despite Burnley attempting to ramp up the pressure.
Arsenal have now won five straight league matches and have a seven-point cushion over AFC Bournemouth, who began the day in second place, while Burnley are 17th, four points above the relegation zone.
How the match unfolded
Arteta’s side displayed their set-piece prowess in the 14th minute when Rice's deep corner was knocked back by Gabriel Magalhaes and nodded in on the goal line by Gyokeres.
Martin Dubravka had to punch another Rice corner off the line and stood up well one-on-one to Bukayo Saka, who was then thwarted by the Burnley goalkeeper a second time before Leandro Trossard's follow-up was blocked on the line by Axel Tuanzebe.
Arsenal got their second in the 35th minute, though, when they cleared a Burnley long throw and Gyokeres played an outstanding cross-field pass to Trossard, who stood up a wonderful delivery for Rice to powerfully head in.
Gyokeres did not return for the second half, and the loss of that focal point meant Arsenal were not quite as effective in the final third after the break.
Trossard tested Dubravka with a low drive, and Florentino headed over from Maxime Esteve's clever nod back in a rare Burnley attack.
Arsenal substitute Christian Norgaard was also denied by Dubravka before Marcus Edwards crashed a last-gasp free-kick against a post for Burnley.
Dominant Arsenal keep it simple
Prior to this game, 11 of Arsenal's 16 Premier League goals had arrived via set-pieces, so Burnley's head coach Parker will have been disappointed with how early and easily the visitors increased that tally to 12.
While there was a beautiful simplicity to Arsenal's opening goal, there was a real majesty to their second that showcased Arteta's side are way more than just flat-track bullies.
Gyokeres had already combined twice to play in Saka, who on another day might have converted both chances, prior to delivering a stunning pass to Trossard – making his 100th Premier League appearance for Arsenal – to pick out Rice.
What will please Arteta most is the influence of his key players. The Gunners paid big money to sign Gyokeres to make a difference in these sorts of games, and the only disappointment for the visitors would be his second-half absence.
But Trossard was a real tormentor on his landmark appearance, while Rice's growing standing as one of the best midfielders in the world was only enhanced with a typically all-action performance.
Victory in Lancashire also marked Arsenal's fourth straight league win without conceding – a feat they last achieved in 2014 when Arteta was a player – and they have the chance to continue that streak against Sunderland, a game that follows their midweek trip to Slavia Prague in the UEFA Champions League.
Shot-shy Burnley fail to test Gunners
Burnley have endured a couple of near misses against some of the Premier League's heavyweights this season, losing narrowly to both Manchester United and Liverpool earlier in the campaign.
However, any hopes of frustrating title contenders Arsenal evaporated when they conceded the simplest of opening goals that belies the sort of defensive solidity Burnley have so often displayed under Parker.
From there, it felt like the Clarets were constantly fighting a losing battle. They were hassled, harried, and outmuscled by an Arsenal side they could scarcely lay a glove on.
Indeed, Burnley failed to register a single shot on goal during an opening period in which, truthfully, the main saving grace was that the scoreline was only 2-0, with Dubravka performing well for his side.
Edwards' free-kick at the very end of the game was ultimately the best they had to show for their efforts, but Parker will be far from deflated as he will be well aware that this is one of the toughest assignments his side will face.
Back-to-back wins over Leeds United and Wolverhampton Wanderers prior to this fixture feel crucial in the context of the campaign, and Parker will be keen to get back to winning ways against struggling West Ham United next Saturday.
Club reports
Burnley report | Arsenal report
What the managers said
Parker: "We started the game very well today. We conceded a goal and the body language looked stunned. The game can run away against a very good side, a clinical side. We were brilliant in the second half. I thought we were right in the game and showed an impetus about us. The second half performance was a pleasing factor, really.
Mikel Arteta: "The first half was exceptional, we scored two goals and gave nothing away. That was the platform. We had to make a few changes and didn't have that much control in the second half. There is a reason Burnley have lost only one game in 18 months here, against Liverpool in the last seconds of the game. But our defending was exceptional again, we didn't give anything away.
"The first half was one of the best [Gyokeres] has played with us. He felt something muscular so we have to wait to learn the extent of that. [Rice] stepped up. He won I don't know how many balls and tackles. It's the evolution of a player."
Next PL fixtures
Match stats
Arsenal have won seven consecutive games without conceding in all competitions for just the second time in the club’s history, previously doing so between September and October 1987 (also a run of seven).
Arsenal have kept a clean sheet in seven consecutive matches in all competitions for the first time since a run of seven between March and April 1999. In the club’s history, only between April and October 1903 have the Gunners kept more successive shutouts in all competitions (eight).
Arsenal have won nine consecutive games in all competitions, their longest winning run since October 2018 (11 under Unai Emery).
Leandro Trossard made his 100th Premier League appearance for Arsenal today, having previously made 116 for Brighton in the competition. Since 2019/20, Trossard is one of only two players to make 100+ appearances for two clubs, along with James Tarkowski (109 for Burnley, 118 for Everton).