Arsenal moved to the brink of the Premier League title with a tense 1-0 victory over Burnley at the Emirates Stadium on Monday night.
The win leaves Mikel Arteta’s side just three points away from securing the championship and they could even be crowned champions on Tuesday if Manchester City fail to beat Bournemouth.
In front of a crowd of more than 60,000 supporters, Arsenal delivered a controlled but nervy performance against a stubborn Burnley side.
The decisive moment arrived in the 37th minute when Kai Havertz headed home from a precise cross by Bukayo Saka to give the hosts the lead before half-time.
Arsenal dominated possession for much of the match but struggled to turn their control into clear-cut chances.
Burnley remained competitive throughout and threatened to snatch a late equaliser, forcing the home side into a tense finish during seven minutes of stoppage time.
Goalkeeper David Raya came under pressure late on, while defenders Gabriel and Myles Lewis-Skelly helped preserve the narrow advantage.
The match also saw several heated moments in the closing stages. Burnley’s Lucas Pires was booked after a high challenge on Saka, while Zian Flemming received a yellow card for a late collision with Raya.
On the touchline, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta cut a frustrated figure as he argued with officials during the tense finale.
Despite criticism from some pundits and supporters over Arsenal’s cautious approach, the result represented another major step toward ending the club’s long wait for the Premier League crown.
Attention now turns to Tuesday night’s fixtures, with Arsenal fans hoping Bournemouth can take points off Manchester City to hand the north London side the title without kicking another ball.
Manchester City go into Tuesday’s fixture with reports confirming that the team is preparing for Pep Guardiola’s potential exit from his position at the club at the end of the season.
If City win, Arsenal will still need one more victory to mathematically secure the Premier League trophy and complete what has been a remarkable campaign.
