Arsenal's narrow but valuable victory gives them 82 points, five points ahead of Manchester City but having played one more game. The "Gunners" will be crowned champions one round early if Manchester City fails to defeat Bournemouth today, 19/5. Should Pep Guardiola's team secure all three points, the title race will be decided on the final matchday, 24/5. In that scenario, Arsenal will visit Crystal Palace, while Manchester City will host Aston Villa.

Arsenal faced a much tougher match than anticipated against Burnley, who were officially relegated on 22/4. Burnley had dismissed coach Scott Parker shortly thereafter and entered the game under the interim management of Michael Jackson. Before their trip to London, the team had avoided defeat in only three of their last 10 Premier League matches. Despite this, Arsenal put their fans through a tense 90 minutes. The "Gunners" played with heavy legs and tight nerves under the pressure of the title race, knowing just one moment of lost focus could have seen all their efforts collapse at Emirates.

Kai Havertz scores with a header in Arsenal's 1-0 victory over Burnley in Premier League round 37 at Emirates Stadium, London, England on 18/5. Photo: *AP*.

Before the match, manager Mikel Arteta called on fans to create the most passionate atmosphere possible on one of the most important nights in Emirates Stadium's 20-year history. Thousands of Arsenal supporters gathered outside the stadium early to welcome the team bus, amidst red flare smoke and continuous roaring cheers. Arteta deployed an attacking lineup aiming for a decisive victory, with Declan Rice partnering Martin Odegaard and Eberechi Eze in midfield, while Saka and Leandro Trossard supported Havertz, who was chosen to play as the central striker instead of Viktor Gyokeres. Arsenal started proactively and almost took an early lead when Trossard's shot from outside the box hit the post. In the 35th minute, controversy erupted as the ball was dangerously crossed into Burnley's box, and Saka had a favorable position ahead of Lucas Pires. The English forward swung his leg to shoot but was impacted from behind by a Burnley defender and fell. Arsenal players immediately protested vehemently, and the crowd collectively demanded a penalty. However, referee Paul Tierney waved play on, and VAR did not intervene to overturn the decision.

However, the hosts did not have to wait long to celebrate. Just over two minutes later, Saka himself took a corner from the right wing, and Havertz cut in to head a dangerous diagonal shot, leaving the Burnley goalkeeper rooted as the ball flew into the net. Emirates erupted in an emotional moment of relief. Saka became the fifth Arsenal player to reach 50 Premier League assists, after Mesut Ozil (54), Cesc Fabregas (70), Thierry Henry (74), and Dennis Bergkamp (94). At 24 years and 255 days old, he is the second-youngest player to reach 50 goals and 50 assists in the league, only behind Wayne Rooney (24 years, 84 days).

In the second half, Arsenal continued their proactive approach, creating several chances. Eze had two consecutive shots that forced goalkeeper Weiss into difficult saves, and then Saka squandered a close-range opportunity. Another controversial turning point occurred in the 67th minute. In an attempt to prevent a Burnley counter-attack, Havertz made a dangerous tackle from behind on Lesley Ugochukwu. VAR immediately reviewed the incident, but the German forward was fortunate to only receive a yellow card amidst strong protests from the visiting team. Immediately after that incident, Arteta made a series of adjustments to preserve the lead. Havertz was replaced by Gyokeres, while two defenders, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Piero Hincapie, were brought on to strengthen the defensive system. Arsenal also deliberately slowed the tempo, prioritizing ball control rather than continuing to press as before. Nevertheless, the final minutes remained tense for the home side. Burnley pushed their lineup high, constantly pumping balls into the penalty area, causing heart-stopping moments for the Emirates crowd. On the sidelines, Arteta could not hide his anxiety, constantly urging his players to maintain their shape. The Spanish manager even brought on Martin Zubimendi and Gabriel Martinelli during injury time to relieve pressure and slow the game's tempo, before the final whistle blew to the roar of Arsenal fans. Beyond the decisive goal, Arsenal continued to show defensive resilience, keeping their 19th clean sheet in the Premier League this season. This foundation has allowed Mikel Arteta's squad to maintain their title hopes until the final rounds.

Hong Duy