Arsenal are five points clear at the top of the Premier League table and the title is in touching distance after Monday night's victory over Burnley at The Emirates
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| Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta(Image: 2026 The Arsenal Football Club Plc) |
The Premier League title is within touching distance for Arsenal after Monday night's 1-0 win over Burnley.
Kait Havertz scored the only goal of the game against the relegated Clarets to move the Gunners five points clear at the top of the table. Arsenal will even be crowned champions tonight if Manchester City fail to win against Champions League-chasing Bournemouth on the south coast.
Mikel Arteta was afforded a huge reception by the home crowd as he took the microphone post-game, telling the crowd: “It is an absolute joy to witness the transformation and contribution each of you have had to turn this place into the most beautiful place to enjoy and play our football games.
“This is the soul of this football club. Make sure that every time you step in this stadium you have the responsibility to keep these standards because it makes such a difference to us and the players.”
He then sat in the bowels of the Emirates to speak to the media. Here is every word the Arsenal boss said...
Was that the game you expected?
I knew it was going to be tough. I think in the first half we played some of the best football we have played this season. We were very unfortunate not to score two or three goals and then that was the story of the season.
If we cannot do that, make sure that we are extremely efficient in defending certain moments. Not giving anything away to the opponent and winning the three points.
Not conceding from open play since Man City away?
Well I think that the desire every single player shows in their defensive duties, their behaviours, is phenomenal and the work by the coaches as well, and we all know the importance of that and how many results and wins we have because of that.
Kai Havertz, starting and his season
Yeah I think we forget the amount of players that we have missed for long long periods of the season. They are exceptional.
That is the merit of this team, that regardless of that look where we are, one game away from winning the Premier League with everything that we have been through and that shows how strong the mindset and the team is.
Is that why you started him?
I had a feeling that he had to start and the way they set up he could be really difficult to handle and he showed that.
It was like you had to suffer through the win?
I don’t know I thought that the amount of hair that I have is never going to go away, but I think this job is going to test it to the limit.
How do you keep everyone focused?
We’ve done what is in our hands, and since the Man City game away, we said it’s five games, we’ve done four, and now there is one to go unless something happens tomorrow night.
Will you be watching the Bournemouth game?
I don’t know how long I am going to watch it, I will be there in front of the TV but I don’t know how much I am going to be able to watch it, that is the reality.
Was Havertz lucky to stay on the pitch?
Well I was certainly worried when they were checking it, when I looked at the bench they said it wasn’t but I haven’t had a look at the action?
Will you watch tomorrow with the players?
No, I haven’t planned to do that. I am planning to watch it with my family and again I don’t know for how long.
The speech at full-time, what did that feel like looking around?
That it’s incredible to witness what we have created in this stadium. Obviously, I have memories from the past, and the comparison is unbelievable to watch. I am so proud. They have created something so special outside the stadium, in the stadium, and now we have to set the standards that we are all responsible for maintaining that because if we can provide that we know the outcome.
How different was that from last season?
Well at that point we knew we were going to finish second and we were not going to have a final to play so yeah, what I said to them: ‘See you at Selhurst Park and see you in Budapest. Two to go!
Pep confessed he was a West Ham fan for 24 hours, are you now a Bournemouth fan for 24 hours?
The biggest ever! Andoni, and all the players and all the supporters of Bournemouth, I think we are all are because we know what it means if they get a result tomorrow.
Will you send Andoni a text?
I don’t think it’s needed. What he’s done in that football club, the transformation, what they are playing for, I don’t think they need anything else. When you look at how Burnley played today, the spirit that they show, how difficult they made it, imagine tomorrow.
On reports Guardiola is leaving at the end of the season.
No, I cannot comment on that, the day that he makes a decision to stay or leave we can comment I think.
- Tom Canton
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