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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

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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AS ANTOINE SEMENYO LEAVES BOURNEMOUTH TO JOIN MANCHESTER CITY, WILL HE STILL START WITH THE CHERRIES TONIGHT?

Bournemouth fans will be gutted to be losing one of their best players to the Premier League elite.

Antoine Semenyo has a medical booked in at Manchester City, ahead of a £65m move, and the deal is expected to be done by this weekend.

The Ghana international, 26, joined the Cherries from Bristol City in January 2023 and signed a new contract last summer - which included the £65m release clause that activated on January 1.

Antoine Semenyo will be joining Manchester City, subject to a medical. | Getty Images

His prolific efforts on the south coast had garnered attention from all the top teams, including Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham, but it was Manchester City that Semenyo had his heart set on.

When some players move during a transfer window, the fans are robbed of a proper goodbye. But for Semenyo, that won’t be the case.

His medical is apparently booked in after tonight’s (January 7) game against Tottenham, meaning the winger will have one final game in the red and black kit.

Speaking at a press conference before the deal was confirmed, Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola said: “It could be the last game - it is my personal opinion as I understand the market and the noise but there is nothing agreed right now.

“He, right now, is our player and I hope it continues.”

So far this season, Semenyo has scored nine goals and assisted three for his teammates.

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Bournemouth striker 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧 𝐊𝐥𝐮𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐭 has officially been given his Guinness World Record 𝐆𝐖𝐑 for 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐝 in a single Premier League game after scoring a hat-trick of penalties in the Cherries 𝟒-𝟐 win over Wolves in 𝐍𝐨𝐯 𝟑𝟎, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒. 

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PREMIER LEAGUE OPENER HALTED AFTER ANTOINE SEMENYO REPORTS RACIAL ABUSE

Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo celebrates scoring his second goal of the season's opening Premier League game. Pic: PA

A man was ejected from Anfield after reports of racial abuse directed at Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo during the season's opening Premier League game against Liverpool.

Match referee Anthony Taylor paused play in the 29th minute after Semenyo accused a spectator of racist abuse.

An anti-discrimination message was read out to the Anfield crowd, and it is understood that police officers went into the referee's room at half-time.

Merseyside Police said an investigation is under way after the 47-year-old man's identity was confirmed and he was removed from the ground.

Chief Inspector Kev Chatterton, the match commander for the Liverpool v Bournemouth game, said: "Merseyside Police will not tolerate hate crime of any form.

"We take incidents like this very seriously, and in cases like this we will be proactively seeking football banning orders, with the club, against those responsible."

He added: "There is no place for racism and it is vital that anyone who witnesses such an offence reports it to stewards, or the police immediately, so we can take the necessary action like we did this evening.

"As with all matches, we work very closely with both Liverpool and Everton FC to ensure the safety of the public, and the players."

A spokesperson for Liverpool said the club was "aware of an allegation of racist abuse made during our Premier League game against Bournemouth".

Semenyo with his teammates during the match. Pic: PA

The Liverpool spokesperson said: "We condemn racism and discrimination in all forms, it has no place in society, or football.

"The club is unable to comment further as tonight's alleged is incident is the subject of an ongoing police investigation, which we will support fully."

After the incident, Semenyo scored twice in the second half to help bring Bournemouth back from two goals down at Anfield before Liverpool went on to eventually win the contest 4-2.

Bournemouth captain Adam Smith told Sky Sports News afterwards: "It shouldn't be happening. I don't know how Ant's played on to be honest and come up with those goals. It's totally unacceptable.

"Something needs to be done. Taking the knee isn't having an effect. We're supporting him and hopefully he'll be OK.

"I wanted him to react because that's what I would have done, but this shows what type of man he is...to come up with those goals showed the type of guy he is.

"To be fair the Liverpool players were very supportive as well towards Antoine and the rest of the team. It was handled in the right way but... so angry.

"I don't know what else we can do. No one's getting it. I don't know what to say anymore. I just feel for Ant... shocking."

The Premier League said in a statement that its "on-field anti-discrimination protocol" had been followed and the incident "will now be fully investigated".

"We offer our full support to the player and both clubs," it added. "Racism has no place in our game, or anywhere in society. We will continue to work with stakeholders and authorities to ensure our stadiums are an inclusive and welcoming environment for all."

The Football Association said it was "concerned" about the allegation of racism towards Semenyo and that it would ensure "appropriate action" would be taken.

The incident comes two days after Tottenham Hotspur player Mathys Tel faced racist abuse online following a missed penalty in his team's UEFA Super Cup victory over Paris Saint-Germain.

- Sky News