Arsenal will be champions if Manchester City does not beat Bournemouth
A 1-0 against Burnley in London was enough for Arsenal to challenge the title
Arsenal were one step away from winning the Premier League for the first time in 22 years. The team led by Mikel Arteta defeated the already relegated Burnley in their last home game and now depends on Manchester City's result to be crowned champion.
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The victory left the Londoners with a clear scenario: if City fails to beat Bournemouth this Tuesday, Arsenal will secure the title without having to play. If Pep Guardiola's team adds the three points, the decision will be left for the last day.
At the Emirates Stadium, the atmosphere was one of expectation several hours before kickoff. The fans gathered around the stadium to welcome the team and displayed a banner with the message “Party in the streets of London”, a response to another displayed weeks ago by City fans.
A triumph suffered that maintains the illusion
The tension of the fight for the championship was transferred to the field. Arsenal did not show ease against an opponent that had already lost their category and needed a set piece to break the tie.
The goal came after half an hour. After a corner taken by Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz rose inside the area and scored with a header. On the goal line, former City player Kyle Walker tried to reject the ball, without success.
After the advantage, the home team handled the match with caution. The second goal could have come through Eberechi Eze, who hit the post with a shot. There was also controversy over an action by Havertz, who was close to being sent off after a strong tackle, but the VAR upheld the warning.
The definition of the title, pending in Manchester
With this result, Arsenal left the definition ready for the coming days. If Manchester City stumbles against Bournemouth, the Gunners will celebrate early. If the current champions win, the London club will need to at least equal City's result on Sunday to win the trophy.
On the final day, Arsenal will visit Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, while City will close the season against Aston Villa.
The opportunity to end a wait of more than two decades was open for Arteta's team, which keeps alive the dream of building a new English league.