Arsenal 1-0 Burnley
by Layth Yousif
at Ashburton Grove

KAI HAVERTZ’S 37th-minute goal was enough for Arsenal to move within touching distance of a first Premier League title in 22 long years on a fraught, if ultimately joyous night in north London on Monday.

Havertz’s strike moved Mikel Arteta’s table toppers five points clear of Manchester City, with the winner ensuring that if Bournemouth beat Pep Guardiola’s second place side on the south coast on Tuesday evening, the Gunners will be crowned Premier League champions for the first time since 2004.

When asked after the match if he would be a Bournemouth fan for the night, Arsenal boss Arteta replied, quick as a flash: “The biggest ever!”

The vital victory was vindication for Arteta after the manager made a big call to start match-winner Havertz, who was drafted into the starting XI, with Viktor Gyokeres named among the substitutes. It proved to be a masterstroke.

Arteta also opted to start both Martin Odegaard and Eberechi Eze in midfield, with Myles Lewis-Skelly dropping to the bench, where he joined Martin Zubimendi as the home side aimed for a tad more creativity to break down their already relegated visitors, who had only won a single game in six wretched months.

As expected, the other Arsenal change saw Cristhian Mosquera replace the injured Ben White at right-back, while Riccardo Calafiori shrugged off last weekend’s injury to start.

In a fevered atmosphere, Leo Trossard hit the post in the early stages following a rousing rendition of North London Forever as the club’s anthem Angel rang out loud and proud before kick-off. The raucous nature of the evening underlined by thousands of Gooners welcoming the team coaches to the stadium amid a thunderous but joyfully peaceable reception mired in bright red smoke hours before kick-off.

The mind recalled City’s gloating banner in Manchester before their 2-1 win over Arsenal four short weeks ago that referenced The Smiths, proclaiming: ‘Panic on the streets of London’. 

However, as the homemade retort from Gooners - daubed on bedsheets that hung over fans outside the stadium in response to that stinging taunt - countered: “Party on the streets of London.” Touche. The thought also arose, that, as the Smiths sang in their 1983 song Hand In Glove: “This one’s different - because it’s us…”

As Arteta said afterwards: “[Fans] have created something so special outside the stadium, in the stadium. Now we have set the standards, we are responsible for maintaining [it].”

The Gunners pushed for an opener, but VAR turned down a penalty on Bukayo Saka after review, while Odegaard fired narrowly wide before the interval, but the dominance was to tell in the 37th minute.

Fitting the only goal of the night came from a set piece. Saka’s corner finding the head of Havertz, aided by a prodigious leap in a crowded box, to guide the ball past Max Weiss in the Clarets net. Thereby putting the Gunners 1-0 up for only his second league strike of an injury-truncated campaign, and his sixth overall, as the stadium erupted in deep, deep joy.

After the break Eze clipped the woodwork, but the hoped-for, if not entirely believed glut of goals did not follow, with goalscorer Havertz also lucky to stay on the pitch following a lunge on Lesley Ugochukwu. Referee Paul Tierney only awarding a yellow card, leaving Burnley boss Michael Jackson to feel the decision was Bad.

As nerves flickered, on and off the pitch, the Gunners held on, as the clock ticked down to record what could well be a crucial victory in a momentous season.

There was an exuberant end of term feel to proceedings in North London afterwards, with the vast majority of fans waiting to applaud their heroes, who gave an upbeat lap of honour.

That was prior to Arteta and his squad, Josh Kroenke, son of owner Stan Kroenke, sporting director Andrea Berta, their families, staff, and of course, Arsenal’s mascot, Gunnersaurus, all posing for a giant team photo, with the club’s green dinosaur laying on the turf in front of the gathering.

As Arteta said to the fans after the match: “See you at Selhurst Park and then see you in Budapest - another two to play.”

Crystal Palace, and Paris Saint Germain stand between Arsenal and sporting immortality. Or will the title be won - and lost - at Bournemouth this evening?