Arsenal’s Kai Havertz celebrates scoring their side’s first goal throughout the English Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Burnley in London, Monday May 18, 2026. (John Walton/PA via AP)
LONDON— Arsenal closed in on a primary Premier League title in 22 years by seeing out a tense 1-0 win over Burnley on Monday in its penultimate game of the campaign, because of Kai Havertz’s first-half goal.
The result means second-placed Manchester City must end Bournemouth’s 16-game unbeaten run on Tuesday to take the title fight into the ultimate weekend. Even so, Arsenal shall be crowned champion if it beats Crystal Palace away on Sunday.
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It could be Arsenal’s first league title since 2004, when the “Invincibles” went unbeaten under Arsene Wenger.
Current manager Mikel Arteta is 2 wins away from delivering the club’s best ever season as Arsenal also plays Paris Saint-Germain within the Champions League final on May 30.
“It’s been a tremendous season to date. We’ve got one big one left here (within the league) after which the Champions League final,” Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard told the Emirates crowd in an on-field interview. “Just a little bit bit to go now and we’re going to present all of it. We’ve got to maintain going.”
Fittingly, the goal against already relegated Burnley got here from a corner — the source of so many crucial Arsenal goals this season — as Havertz rose highest to move in a delivery from Bukayo Saka within the thirty seventh.
It was only Havertz’s second league goal of an injury-ravaged season, but he was given the beginning up front ahead of Viktor Gyökeres by Arteta.
“I had a sense that he had to begin,” Arteta said. “The best way they arrange, I feel he might be really difficult to handle. And he’s shown that.”
Havertz was fortunate to not be sent off when he received only a yellow card within the 67th for a lunging studs-up tackle from behind on Lesley Ugochukwu, a choice that was upheld after a VAR review.
While Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya never had a save to make against a toothless Burnley side, the lead never felt completely comfortable as a second goal never got here for the host.
But Arsenal held on through nearly 10 minutes of added time to take one other step toward ending its decades-long title drought.
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“There may be one to go unless something beautiful happens tomorrow night,” Arteta said, adding he shall be “the largest ever” Bournemouth fan throughout the game against Man City.