Burnley was a tight, tense affair, and three points for Man City at in-form AFC Bournemouth are far from guaranteed.
Bournemouth are on a 16-game unbeaten run, though they face a Man City side hungrily chasing down Arsenal and on a 14-match unbeaten streak of their own.
It was the 19th different Premier League game in which Arsenal have scored a set-piece – a joint-record in a 38-game season, underlining how valuable a weapon it has been in their title chase.
Havertz was, perhaps unsurprisingly, substituted shortly afterwards – Arteta taking no chances with his side yet to see a red card in the Premier League all season.
“One to go.”Regardless of what Man City do, the Premier League trophy is now theirs to lose.
Gunners' crucial victory against Burnley makes it win or bust for Guardiola's side at Bournemouth
Over to you, Manchester City.
Arsenal came through a tricky game against Burnley, meaning if Pep Guardiola’s side slip up on Tuesday night, then the Gunners will be crowned Premier League champions.
It is so close, they can practically feel the trophy.
No game is easy at this stage of the season, when tension runs high. Burnley was a tight, tense affair, and three points for Man City at in-form AFC Bournemouth are far from guaranteed.
Bournemouth are on a 16-game unbeaten run, though they face a Man City side hungrily chasing down Arsenal and on a 14-match unbeaten streak of their own.
The pressure on the occasion only increased after Arsenal came through their penultimate fixture of the season – and final one at Emirates Stadium – by edging past Burnley in another night of Bukayo Saka milestones, a match-winning goal from Kai Havertz and an 11th 1-0 win of the season, the most since 1994.
In his post-match Sky Sports interview, Mikel Arteta said he could “sense the tension”, joking: “I’ve got a lot of hair but now I start to worry I lose it all!”
In a game of patience, it felt inevitable that a set-piece would break down a stubborn Burnley side, already relegated but seemingly determined yet to play a significant role in the title race. It was the 19th different Premier League game in which Arsenal have scored a set-piece – a joint-record in a 38-game season, underlining how valuable a weapon it has been in their title chase.
Watch: Saka's corner for Havertz's winner v Burnley
Bukayo Saka lived every part of @Arsenal's winner against Burnley! pic.twitter.com/E2PsGjxdWW — Premier League (@premierleague) May 18, 2026
'It doesn't matter how you win'
“It was just about winning the game, taking the three points,” said Patrick Vieira, the last Arsenal captain to lift the Premier League trophy 22 years ago, in the Sky Sports studio.
“It was job done today. When you’re so close, it doesn’t matter how you win. It wasn’t an easy game, but they took three points and that’s all that matters.”
Though Leandro Trossard struck the post from 20 yards in the 15th minute, Arsenal had to wait until the half-hour mark before a first shot on target: a sharp turn and snap shot by Eberechi Eze that goalkeeper Max Weiss saved comfortably.
Burnley's set-up frustrated Arsenal, and Hannibal Mejbri was booked in the first half for delaying a restart after fouling Gabriel.
But Saka was purring – coming close with a wonderfully curled left-foot effort and later scooping the ball over the goalkeeper only to see it drop wide – and it was his corner, drifted into an inviting area at the near post, that Havertz met with a gravity-defying leap to head in.
It brought up a 50th Premier League assist for Saka, placing him in esteemed company: only the fifth Arsenal player to reach that milestone, following Dennis Bergkamp (94), Thierry Henry (74), Cesc Fabregas (70) and Mesut Ozil (54).
It also made Saka the second-youngest player, at 24 years and 255 days, to register 50+ Premier League goals and assists, behind Wayne Rooney, who reached that tally at 24 years and 84 days. At Arsenal, only Bergkamp and Henry had achieved that double before him.
The goal brought a collective sigh of relief, but still 53 minutes plus stoppage time to navigate. Arsenal's fans, who lined the streets in droves to welcome the team coach into the stadium, played their part again.
“The fans have been amazing, especially these last two home games arriving at the stadium and seeing everything outside,” captain Martin Odegaard said, addressing the supporters on the pitch. “The atmosphere inside here is amazing. Let's get ready for the last two.”
Arteta had an interesting decision to make in the second half: contain the game to secure the win, or play more expansively to go for goals, in case goal difference becomes decisive on the final day.
If Man City beat Bournemouth, they will have a fractionally superior goal difference, but have scored six more goals even before kicking a ball on Tuesday – the next criterion deciding the title if points and goal difference are level.
It adds an extra layer of pressure to Arsenal’s final day, knowing that a draw against Crystal Palace may well not be enough should Man City beat Aston Villa.
A little anxiety crept around the stadium with the lead only a single goal as the second half wore on. Eze brushed the crossbar with a bouncing volley, and there was a nervy wait while the VAR checked whether a Kai Havertz tackle was a red card before settling on a yellow.
Havertz was, perhaps unsurprisingly, substituted shortly afterwards – Arteta taking no chances with his side yet to see a red card in the Premier League all season.
But they came through it and completed the job. Another strong defensive performance, another clean sheet, another win, another three points closer.
“It’s another massive one,” Arteta said. “One to go.”
Regardless of what Man City do, the Premier League trophy is now theirs to lose. All it requires is one more win, at Palace on Sunday, then history awaits.
