Arteta to root for Bournemouth as Arsenal close on Premier League title

Mikel Arteta said he will become the “biggest ever” Bournemouth fan on Tuesday night after Arsenal edged closer to their first Premier League title since 2004 with a narrow victory over Burnley.

Kai Havertz scored his first Premier League home goal since last February — Arsenal’s record-extending 18th goal from a corner — enough to overcome a spirited Burnley side already relegated weeks ago, though the Germany striker was fortunate not to receive a red card for catching Lesley Ugochukwu with his studs.

The win means Manchester City must beat Champions League-chasing Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium to keep the title race alive until the final day, with both contenders now level on goal difference. A draw or defeat would confirm Arsenal as champions for the first time in 22 years.

Arteta revealed he plans to watch the match at home with his family, with fingers firmly crossed. “I will be there in front of the TV, but I don’t know how much I’m going to be able to watch it. I think that’s the reality,” he said.

Asked whether he would support Andoni Iraola’s side — after Pep Guardiola said “Come on you Irons” before West Ham’s game last week — Arteta added: “The biggest ever. For Andoni and all the players, all the people that are good supporters of Bournemouth, I think we are all, because we know what that means. What he’s done in that football club, the transformation, and what they are playing for us. I don’t think they need anything else.”

If City beat Bournemouth, it sets up a decisive final day: Guardiola’s side must defeat Aston Villa and hope Arsenal slip up at Crystal Palace, with Palace manager Oliver Glasner promising to field his strongest team despite facing the Conference League final three days later.

Arsenal’s players took a lap of honor after the final whistle, with captain Martin Ødegaard addressing the crowd and promising they will “give it our all” to end the season with silverware. The team has now recorded 19 clean sheets in the Premier League and not conceded since losing to City last month.

“We’ve done what is in our hands,” Arteta said. “Since the Man City game away, we said it is five games, and it was in our hands. We’ve done four, and there is one to go.”

Burnley interim manager Michael Jackson felt his side could have equalized if Havertz had been sent off. “It’s a red card. We’re disappointed because that could change the game for the last 20 minutes,” he said.