Arsenal One Step Closer to Title After Hard-Fought Win Over Burnley
Arsenal have never been closer to securing a Premier League title under Mikel Arteta's management. The Gunners' 1-0 victory over Burnley has brought them near to ending their 22-year wait for the league crown, with the possibility of clinching the title as early as Tuesday.
Any result other than a Manchester City win at Bournemouth would hand Arsenal the title before Sunday's league finale, ensuring Arteta's side finally shed their tag as nearly-men after finishing second for three consecutive seasons.
Even if City wins on Tuesday, Arsenal would only need a victory at Crystal Palace on Sunday to secure the championship. While the Gunners acknowledge that nothing is guaranteed yet, no team in Premier League history has started the final day at the top of the table and failed to win the title, suggesting their success is imminent.
On a night when reports circulated about Pep Guardiola's potential departure from Manchester City, Arsenal fans are optimistic about welcoming a new era for their club.
There was a celebratory atmosphere well before kickoff at Emirates Stadium, with supporters greeting the team bus with flares and chants 90 minutes prior to the match.
Kai Havertz's first-half header proved decisive despite a tense second half, during which the goalscorer narrowly avoided a red card for a late challenge.
Arsenal's eighth 1-0 win of the season was sufficient, and while Arteta remained noncommittal about where he would watch Tuesday's match, all attention is now focused on Bournemouth.
"I think we deserve to be champions, 100% speaking honestly," Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice told .
"This season has been our season but Man City have been incredible. Under Pep, you can never rule them out, the ruthlessness of them. But we have put ourselves in a really good position and all I have been saying is that we have to keep going.
"There is one more. Thirty-eight games nearly completed and at the end you can say you are a champion, but you have to go out there on Sunday and perform because Palace is not going to be easy."
"We played some of our best football of season in first half" - Arteta
'One-nil to the Arsenal Sums Them Up'
It seems fitting that Arsenal have one hand on the Premier League trophy thanks to a 1-0 win. Of their past four league matches, all victories, three have ended with that scoreline. The Gunners have conceded just once in their past six matches.
They have conceded the fewest goals in the league this season (26), and the last time they conceded in open play was during their defeat by Manchester City on 19 April, seven games ago.
The clean sheet against Burnley marked Arsenal's 32nd in all competitions this season.
"I thought that the amount of hair that I have is never going to go away but in this job it is going to test it to the limit," said Arteta.
"The desire that every single player shows in their defensive duties, their behaviours and the way that they work for each other is phenomenal.
"It's a lot of work put in by all the coaches as well. And we all know the importance of that and how many results and wins we have because of that."
This was Arsenal's 13th 1-0 win of the season. Their playing style, reliance on set-pieces, and the relative scarcity of larger winning margins have drawn both criticism and anxious finishes.
Manchester City currently have a superior goal difference, and if they win their final two matches, Arsenal will need to defeat Crystal Palace on the last day, as a draw would not suffice in that scenario.
"In a funny way, Man City might actually have taken that," ex-Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher said on Sky Sports. "Seeing how they played that second half, I think the nerves will really kick in if Man City beat Bournemouth. Crystal Palace are a better team than Burnley even with a few players out.
"Arsenal are going to do it in the fashion of George Graham rather than Arsene Wenger - '1-0 to the Arsenal' probably sums them up."
Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville added: "Arsenal are right on the brink but by goodness they don't half make it difficult for themselves.
"You have to admire their ability to concentrate and focus and keep to the defensive shape and principles. They keep clean sheets and that's a rare commodity in the modern game, for a team to see out 1-0 victories like this team can.
"I think it's going to be enough to see them home."
'If They Don't Do It, It Would Be Heartbreaking'
Attention now turns to the south coast and Bournemouth.
Before Arsenal's match at West Ham last week, Guardiola expressed support for the Hammers, hoping they would take crucial points off his title rivals. Now, Arteta—once Guardiola's assistant at City—has pledged his support elsewhere, stating he would be Bournemouth's "biggest fan" on Tuesday.
With so much at stake, Arsenal supporters will be watching closely to see if they can become champions without playing.
"It's so big. I remember when we did the double, my kids obviously don't. They've been so consistent for the last few years. All the players, Arteta, they deserve it so much. And if they don't do it, it'd be heartbreaking," Arsenal supporter Kym said.
"I'm going to watch it at home and behind a pillow honestly. It's literally down to the last wire and with Pep Guardiola and Arteta having that such close relationship, it's going to be, it's intense.
"I will be on cloud nine for a long time [if Arsenal win the title]. It's not just me, it's my whole family, it's all the supporters, I just feel like it's been so close so many years and it will mean so much."
Another supporter commented:
"I'm nervous. I will be watching it with my friends after work.
"I think you know Bournemouth actually have something to play for so that's what is in my head. I think Bournemouth could do the job because if they finish sixth and Villa win the Europa League [and finish fifth], they're in the Champions League.
"So yeah, it's possible and the same thing with Palace, they got to play for the Conference League.
"I'm saying this to someone that's been very critical of Arsenal, I've never been more confident. I'm not saying I'm very confident but I've never been more confident in us getting this over the line."
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