Arsenal is on the verge of clinching their first Premier League title in 22 years after securing a 1-0 victory against Burnley at the Emirates Stadium.
Kai Havertz scored with a header from a corner just nine minutes before half-time, though he narrowly avoided a red card for a reckless tackle midway through the second half.
This win elevates Mikel Arteta’s squad five points ahead of Manchester City, who must secure a victory against Bournemouth on Tuesday to keep their title hopes alive.
If Pep Guardiola’s team fails to win at the Vitality Stadium—which has not seen Bournemouth lose in eight matches since their 3-2 defeat to Arsenal earlier this year—then the Gunners will celebrate the championship with a match to spare.
After suffering a 2-1 defeat to City on April 19, it seemed Arsenal might miss the chance to claim their first title since Arsene Wenger led the “Invincibles” to glory in 2004. However, the Gunners, who finished second in the league for the past three seasons, have responded by winning their next four games without conceding a goal, positioning themselves to shed their reputation as ‘nearly men’ and potentially secure Arteta’s second trophy in his nearly seven-year tenure.
This victory could mark the beginning of an exciting twelve days for the club, with a Champions League final against Paris St. Germain set for May 30—a title that has eluded the Gunners throughout their history.
Before that, Arteta’s team will face Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, holding at least a two-point lead over City.
Arsenal struggled to convert their chances in the first half, with Havertz shooting wide and Leandro Trossard hitting the post from outside the box.
Bukayo Saka appealed for a penalty in the 34th minute after going down following a challenge from Lucas Pires, but referee Paul Tierney and VAR both remained unmoved, much to Arteta’s frustration. However, that frustration turned to joy moments later as Havertz found the net.
After a couple of short corners, Arsenal opted for a more traditional approach with Saka delivering a precise cross into a crowded area for Havertz to score, marking their 18th league goal from corners, which accounts for over a quarter of their 69 goals this season.
This also marked Saka’s 50th Premier League assist, joining the ranks of legends like Dennis Bergkamp (94), Thierry Henry (74), Cesc Fabregas (70), and Mesut Ozil (54) in that milestone.
Saka’s curling shot before half-time went wide, and as the second half commenced, it became crucial for the home team to secure another goal to avoid any late-game anxiety.
Burnley’s Eberechi Eze tested the crossbar with a strike, keeping the match tense while Arsenal had only a single-goal advantage and with City still in the title fight.
A critical moment for Havertz came in the 65th minute when he seemed to catch Lesley Ugochukwu with a high boot, but VAR chose not to intervene.
The match turned into a disjointed affair, with nerves palpable among the 60,000 fans in attendance. Yet, as the final minutes approached without any threat to David Raya’s goal, it became clear that Havertz’s first-half goal would be enough, placing Arsenal on the brink of triumph.