It was far from pretty, but Arsenal are one game away from the Premier League title after holding their nerve to edge past already-relegated Burnley on Monday night, courtesy of Kai Havertz’s towering header from yet another set piece.
LThe German forward rose to meet Bukayo Saka’s corner shortly before half-time, although he was fortunate not be sent off later in the game. The 1-0 win means the Gunners will be champions if Manchester City drop points at high-flying Bournemouth on Tuesday.
Predictably it was attack vs defence from the outset as the Clarets sat in a low block and tried to stifle the wannabe champions, but it always looked like a matter of time before Arsenal found the net. Leandro Trossard almost did the business as he smacked the base of the post after some neat combination with Eberechi Eze after a quarter of an hour, and Saka’s floated a dangerous cross right across the face of goal.
The Gunners were convinced they should have had a penalty in the 34th minute when Saka went down in the six-yard box when it looked easier to tap in Havertz’s low cross. Replays showed he had connected with Lucas Pires’ leg as he went to shoot, and the VAR didn’t overturn the decision not to award a spot-kick.
Arsenal seemed to lose their way in the second period on what became another tetchy occasion at the Emirates. Eze squandered two big openings in the space of two minutes not long after the restart, including a volley that was feathered onto the crossbar by the Burnley goalkeeper.
With the win, Arsenal now have 82 points from 37 games, while Manchester City have 77 points from 36 games.
Arteta’s men will be confirmed champions if Manchester City fail to beat Bournemouth on Tuesday.
Should City win away to Bournemouth, Arsenal will need to beat Crystal Palace away from home on the final day of the league to be confirmed champions.
GOAL
