Arsenal on the verge of the Premier League title after beating Burnley
LONDON (AP) — Arsenal moved nearer to its first Premier League title in 22 years by holding on for a tense 1-0 victory over Burnley on Monday in its penultimate recreation of the marketing campaign, due to a first-half aim from Kai Havertz.
The consequence means second-placed Manchester City should finish Bournemouth’s 16-game unbeaten streak on Tuesday to take the title struggle to the closing weekend. Still, Arsenal shall be topped champions in the event that they beat Crystal Palace away on Sunday.
It can be Arsenal’s first league title since 2004, when the “Invincibles” completed unbeaten below Arsene Wenger.
Current supervisor Mikel Arteta is 2 wins away from reaching the greatest season in the membership’s historical past as Arsenal additionally play in the Champions League closing in opposition to Paris Saint-Germain on May 30.
“It’s been an incredible season so far. We have a big one left here (in the league) and then the Champions League final,” Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard informed the followers at the Emirates Stadium in an interview on the pitch. “There’s just a little bit left and we’re going to give it our all. We have to continue.”
Fittingly, the aim in opposition to relegated Burnley got here from a nook kick – the supply of so many essential Arsenal objectives this season – when Havertz rose increased than anybody else to move in Bukayo Saka’s supply in the thirty seventh minute.
It was solely Havertz’s second league aim in an injury-ravaged season, however Arteta gave him the begin at centre-forward forward of Viktor Gyökeres.
“I had the feeling that I had to start,” Arteta mentioned. “The way they were set up, I think they could be really difficult to handle. And they’ve proven that.”
Havertz was fortunate to not be despatched off when he obtained solely a yellow card in the 67th for a deal with from behind, diving with studs first, on Lesley Ugochukwu; a choice that was upheld after a VAR assessment.
Although Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya didn’t should make any saves in opposition to a innocent Burnley aspect, the lead by no means felt solely comfy, and the house group’s second aim by no means got here.
But Arsenal held out for nearly 10 minutes of added time to take one other step in direction of ending their title drought, which has lasted greater than twenty years.
“There is one left to play unless something beautiful happens tomorrow night,” Arteta mentioned, including that he shall be “the biggest” Bournemouth fan throughout the recreation in opposition to City.
