Arsenal have one hand on their first Premier League title in 22 years following a 1-0 win against Burnley at the Emirates Stadium. Kai Havertz headed Arsenal in front from a corner with nine minutes of the first half remaining before he was fortunate to escape a red card for a rash tackle midway through the second.
The victory takes Mikel Arteta’s players five points clear of Manchester City who must now win at Bournemouth on Tuesday night to take the title race to the final day. Should Pep Guardiola’s side fail to win at the Vitality Stadium – where Bournemouth have not lost a game in the eight matches since their 3-2 defeat to Arsenal at the turn of the year – then the Gunners will celebrate the title with a game to spare.
Arsenal looked to have blown their bid to claim a first championship since Arsene Wenger oversaw the unbeaten ‘Invincibles’ to glory in 2004 following a 2-1 defeat at rivals City on April 19. But the Gunners, runners-up in the league for the past three seasons, have bounced back by winning their next four without conceding, and are now in pole position to abolish their ‘nearly men’ tags, and earn Arteta the second trophy of his near seven-year tenure.
Arsenal vs Burnley latest updates
- GOAL! Havertz nods home
- CLOSE! Mejbri lashes wide
- OFF THE POST! Trossard clatters woodwork
- CLOSE! Saka bends wide
Every word from Odegaard and Arteta's on-pitch speeches
22:52 , Oli GentMartin Odegaard and Mikel Arteta addressed the Arsenal fans after the club's final home match of the season.
Three things we learned
22:40 , Oli GentMatt Verri picked out his three key takeaways from Arsenal’s huge win...
Arsenal ratings
22:13 , Oli GentWho was the star man? Who disappointed?
Matt Verri rated the Arsenal players...
Arsenal pile pressure on City with Burnley win
22:13 , Oli GentArsenal are just one game away from becoming Premier League champions after their 1-0 win over Burnley on Monday.
Kai Havertz, who replaced Viktor Gyokeres in a surprise change to the Gunners’ lineup, rose highest to nod home a Bukayo Saka corner in the first half.
FT: Arsenal 1-0 Burnley
21:57 , Oli GentThat's it, the Gunners have won it.
They are inches away from becoming Premier League champions.
Over to you, Man City...
Arsenal 1-0 Burnley
21:54 , Oli Gent90+5 mins: Martinelli speeds through on goal, but Walker hares after him and stops him in the nick of time.
Arsenal 1-0 Burnley
21:50 , Oli Gent90+3 mins: Trossard and Odegaard are replaced by Martinelli and Zubimendi.
Arsenal 1-0 Burnley
21:48 , Oli Gent90 mins: Seven added minutes.
Arsenal 1-0 Burnley
21:44 , Oli Gent87 mins: Nerves are jangling around the Emirates every time Burnley move into an advanced area. Can the Gunners hold on?
Arsenal 1-0 Burnley
21:40 , Oli Gent83 mins: Two changes for the visitors as Tchaouna and Esteve are replaced by Bruun Larsen and Humphreys.
Matt Verri reports
21:38 , Oli Gent81 mins: Rice going absolutely mental at Gabriel, who is not particularly shy in response. This has become yet another torturously tense night for Arsenal.
Arsenal 1-0 Burnley
21:35 , Oli Gent79 mins: James Ward-Prowse replaces Florentino Luis.
Arsenal 1-0 Burnley
21:35 , Oli Gent78 mins: A quick VAR check as Hincapie and Tuanzebe collide with the Ecuadorian going down in the box, but no penalty.
Arsenal 1-0 Burnley
21:32 , Oli Gent75 mins: 15 minutes to go. Can the hosts find that elusive second?
Arsenal 1-0 Burnley
21:30 , Oli Gent72 mins: Gyokeres is coming on for Havertz, and Hincapie and Lewis-Skelly are also readied. Calafiori and Eze are sacrificed.
Arsenal 1-0 Burnley
21:27 , Oli Gent71 mins: Zeki Amdouni replaces Hannibal, who is in the referee’s book. Josh Laurent is also coming on for Ugochukwu.
Matt Verri reports
21:27 , Oli Gent70 mins: Think Havertz is very lucky there - could easily have been a red card. Would have reached unprecedented levels of anxiety in here had he gone off...
Arsenal 1-0 Burnley
21:26 , Oli Gent68 mins: Havertz survives! The German is lucky, with the replay showing his studs land on Ugochukwu’s standing leg, well above the ball.
Arsenal 1-0 Burnley
21:26 , Oli Gent66 mins: Havertz is in the book after a lunge on Ugochukwu.. but replays are showing it’s more dangerous than first thought! VAR are checking this...
Arsenal 1-0 Burnley
21:20 , Oli Gent63 mins: No subs from Arteta yet. He does have a stacked bench available to him. When will he use it?
Arsenal 1-0 Burnley
21:17 , Oli Gent61 mins: Over the hour mark now and you feel that Arsenal fans would love a second to almost kill this game and settle the nerves. Can they find it?
Arsenal 1-0 Burnley
21:15 , Oli Gent59 mins: Odegaard looks for a scooped ball inside of Walker for Calafiori who makes the dart in behind down the left, but he just overcooks it.
Matt Verri reports
21:13 , Oli Gent57 mins: Eze has been fairly quiet but he nearly doubled the lead there. Scuffed the volley - almost worked perfectly. Arsenal will back themselves to hold onto this narrow lead if they have too but it goes without saying that they would love a second goal to really ease the tension.
Arsenal 1-0 Burnley
21:11 , Oli Gent55 mins: Close! Saka hangs the ball in and Trossard ducks out of the way. Eze has a swipe, but his bouncing effort is over the top.
Arsenal 1-0 Burnley
21:09 , Oli Gent52 mins: Close! Eze loses it in centre-field with a sloppy pass and Anthony goes for an effort from range, but it dips too late as it whizzes over the bar.
Arsenal 1-0 Burnley
21:08 , Oli Gent51 mins: A moment of possession for Burnley - rare in this game - before Weiss knocks it long for Flemming. Saliba wins the header, and the Clarets get the throw, which they don’t make the most of.
Arsenal 1-0 Burnley
21:06 , Oli Gent49 mins: Flemming has done well under the high ball against Gabriel and Saliba. He’s winning first contacts, despite the Arsenal defenders clambering all over his back.
Kick off!
21:03 , Oli Gent46 mins: Back underway.
HT: Arsenal 1-0 Burnley
20:47 , Oli GentThere’s the interval, and as it stands, job done for Arsenal.
Another 45 to go, but they’re on track for the title.
Arsenal 1-0 Burnley
20:47 , Oli Gent45 mins: Two added minutes.
Arsenal 1-0 Burnley
20:44 , Oli Gent44 mins: Close! Saka tries to bend one with his left, and he is inches away from a second.
Matt Verri reports
20:40 , Oli Gent40 mins: Arsenal had a decent shout for a penalty, then Odegaard went very close… but now they do have their goal! Plenty of short corners already but one swung into the six yard box does the trick. “Set piece again ole ole” ringing out around the Emirates.
Goal! Arsenal 1-0 Burnley
20:38 , Oli Gent38 mins: It’s there, and it’s Havertz with the breakthrough, nodding home Saka’s corner.
Arsenal 0-0 Burnley
20:37 , Oli Gent37 mins: Another chance for the hosts as Calafiori gets in down the left and cuts it back for Odegaard running onto it, and he hits it against Ugochukwu. Corner, Arsenal.
Arsenal 0-0 Burnley
20:36 , Oli Gent34 mins: Havertz squares for the No7, who goes for it under challenge from Pires. The left-back has kicked the winger’s foot with both going for the ball... and no penalty, according to the VAR!
Arsenal 0-0 Burnley
20:35 , Oli Gent33 mins: Arsenal fans and players are screaming for a penalty as Saka falls to the floor with the goal at his mercy! A great cross, and the Arsenal man really had to score!
Arsenal 0-0 Burnley
20:30 , Oli Gent31 mins: Eze has the hosts’ first shot on target after some patient build-up. A cross from Havertz is only half clear and Rice can’t bring it under his spell. Eze takes a swipe at the bouncing ball, but Weiss catches.
Arsenal 0-0 Burnley
20:28 , Oli Gent29 mins: A yellow for Hannibal as he gets physical with Gabriel, giving the centre-back a cynical nudge.
Arsenal 0-0 Burnley
20:27 , Oli Gent27 mins: A decent counter from Burnley as Flemming and Hannibal link up after Ugochukwu’s clearance. Flemming sets Tchaouna free, and he looks for Hannibal deep in the box. The Tunisian takes a touch, but blazes wide.
Arsenal 0-0 Burnley
20:26 , Oli Gent26 mins: Rice over another free kick for Arsenal, this time from deep. It’s played short again and worked out for Trossard wide left, but no cross is swung in. Some nervy groans from the Arsenal faithful.
Arsenal 0-0 Burnley
20:23 , Oli Gent24 mins: Dancing feet from Havertz down the right as he tries to hold play up in search of support. He gets it from Odegaard, who looks to slide the German back in with a reverse ball, but the pair are on different wavelengths.
Arsenal 0-0 Burnley
20:21 , Oli Gent21 mins: Odegaard is dropping deep to control the tempo once more as Arsenal look to probe and break through the Burnley blockade. How will they find that elusie opener?
Arsenal 0-0 Burnley
20:18 , Oli Gent19 mins: No sentimentality towards Kyle Walker from the home support, who boo the former Tottenham and Man City defender at every opportunity.
Matt Verri reports
20:16 , Oli Gent16 mins: Arsenal are dominating. Havertz, Saka and Odegaard linking up so nicely on the right, and Trossard is doing it all by himself pretty much on the other flank. Brilliant work to cut inside and create the space for the shot - so unlucky it smacked back off the post.
Arsenal 0-0 Burnley
20:15 , Oli Gent15 mins: Off the post! The closest the Gunners have come as Trossard cracks the woodwork. He drifts in off the left and strikes with his right after getting it back from Eze, and he hits the foot of the post.
Arsenal 0-0 Burnley
20:14 , Oli Gent14 mins: Close! A neat routine from the Gunners off the training ground, and it finally comes to Havertz who strikes, but he snatches at it.
Arsenal 0-0 Burnley
20:13 , Oli Gent13 mins: A first dart inside from Saka, moving onto his left and shaping too shoot. It hits Esteve and goes behind. Corner, Arsenal.
Arsenal 0-0 Burnley
20:13 , Oli Gent12 mins: An early spat between Trossard and Flemming after another foul on Eze. The Gunners players are telling the Belgian to calm down. A fiery early exchange.
Arsenal 0-0 Burnley
20:11 , Oli Gent9 mins: A wicked free kick from Rice is fizzed in, but Burnley just about are able to deal with it and clear.
Arsenal 0-0 Burnley
20:10 , Oli Gent8 mins: Calafiori and Eze combine down the left, and the latter is clattered by Tchaouna. Free kick, Arsenal.
Matt Verri reports
20:09 , Oli Gent4 mins: Atmosphere is absolutely frenzied. Does feel important Arsenal make a good start and get an early goal to ensure it stays bouncing like this. Not a night to encourage nerves to start setting in.
Kick off!
20:09 , Oli Gent1 min: We’re underway.
Five minute warning
19:55 , Oli GentThe players are out, and we’re about to get underway.
Ten minutes to go!
19:53 , Oli GentWho will win this one?
Can Arsenal win the league tonight?
19:43 , Oli GentNo - but they can move mightily close.
With all three points this evening, they will go five clear of Man City with one game to play.
City must beat Bournemouth tomorrow to take the title race to the final day.
If they don’t, Arsenal are champions.
Matt Verri reports
19:35 , Oli GentFighting talk from Axel Tuanzebe ahead of kick-off. "You've seen many incidences before where they have had a little bit of pressure and they have struggled with it, so we are counting on that really and to perform ourselves," the Burnley defender says.
Can Burnley stop Arsenal?
19:29 , Oli Gent"They have a chance to be remembered for changing direction of the Premier League trophy" 👀@Carra23 on whether Burnley could get something out of the game against Arsenal... pic.twitter.com/s1HQRPJy48
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 18, 2026
Jackson pre-match
19:25 , Oli GentMike Jackson speaks to Sky ahead of this one...
"We've come here to try and put in a performance that people can be proud of" 💪
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 18, 2026
Mike Jackson shares his thoughts ahead of Arsenal vs Burnley ⏳ pic.twitter.com/4Woxek1tFb
Arteta pre-match
19:20 , Oli GentHere’s what the Arsenal boss has to say...
"I need to convince them how good they are!"
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 18, 2026
Mikel Arteta speaks on the reasoning behind his starting XI and the tough test ahead against Burnley! pic.twitter.com/8G6IavHjt2
Arrivals!
19:15 , Oli GentArrivals!
— Standard Sport (@standardsport) May 18, 2026
LIVE: https://t.co/xjPNJlP8Rk #ARSBUR pic.twitter.com/m8RG1rABwy
Fan reaction
19:10 , Oli GentWhere’s my boy? Guess we’re going full attack pic.twitter.com/hwDAHHDcI2
— 𝕞𝕦𝕓𝕓𝕪 (@iamubby_) May 18, 2026
Fan reaction
19:05 , Oli GentWould have loved Viktor Gyökeres upfront over Kai Havertz but let’s goo.
— WelBeast (@WelBeast) May 18, 2026
Fan reaction
19:00 , Oli Gent#COYG ❤️🤍
— Lana_Florea (@Lana_Florea) May 18, 2026
Lovely seeing Eze and Odegaard starting together
Matt Verri reports
18:55 , Oli Gent"A chance in little over 24 hours that Arsenal could be Premier League champions."@MattVerri gives his thoughts from the Emirates Stadium.
— Standard Sport (@standardsport) May 18, 2026
LIVE: https://t.co/xjPNJlP8Rk #ARSBUR pic.twitter.com/Z5iz3uF1gQ
Burnley lineup
18:52 , Oli GentBurnley XI: Weiss; Walker, Esteve, Tuanzebe, Pires; Luis, Ugochukwu; Tchaouna, Hannibal, Anthony; Flemming
Subs: Dubravka, Hartman, Worrall, Bruun Larsen, Edwards, Humphreys, Ward-Prowse, Amdouni, Laurent
Matt Verri reports
18:50 , Oli GentNo half measures from Arteta - that's a very attacking side. It's been a long way to see Odegaard, Rice, Eze and Saka in the same starting lineup. Arsenal will hope the title race does not come down to goal difference, but if it does tonight is a chance to boost their standing in that regard.
Arsenal lineup
18:45 , Oli GentArsenal XI: Raya; Mosquera, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Rice, Lewis-Skelly; Saka, Odegaard, Trossard; Gyokeres
Subs: Kepa, Lewis-Skelly, Hincapie, Zubimendi, Gyokeres, Jesus, Dowman, Madueke, Martinelli
Arsenal have a huge opportunity
18:36 , Oli GentArsenal are potentially just one day away.
The Premier League title has been for so long a distant prize, one that has at times bobbed closer but too often has then been pushed away again by dropped points.
However, the waiting is almost over, one way or another. Arsenal are guaranteed to know their fate this time next week. Victory over Burnley tonight could mean the champagne is popped on Tuesday night.
Arsenal arrive
18:30 , Oli GentAnd here come the hosts...
— Standard Sport (@standardsport) May 18, 2026
📹 @MattVerri
LIVE: https://t.co/xjPNJlP8Rk #ARSBUR pic.twitter.com/0YSTh0FdGE
Burnley touch down in north London
18:23 , Oli GentThe visitors have arrived at the Emirates!
— Standard Sport (@standardsport) May 18, 2026
📹 @MattVerri
LIVE: https://t.co/xjPNJlP8Rk #ARSBUR pic.twitter.com/3GWssEmE06
Match odds
18:15 , Oli GentArsenal to win: 1/14
Burnley to win: 22/1
Draw: 15/2
Odds via Betfair (subject to change).
Head to head
18:07 , Oli GentInterestingly, perhaps, Burnley have managed to avoid defeat on two of their last three visits to the Emirates - winning there 1-0 in December 2020.
Arsenal wins: 58
Burnley wins: 34
Draws: 24
Standard Sport prediction
18:00 , Oli GentWith Man City now ahead on goal difference, by one, there will be a lot of talk about Arsenal needing to win by a big margin in case the Premier League title race comes down to that.
However, the reality is that back-to-back 1-0 wins against Burnley and then Crystal Palace on the final day of the season would secure the title for the Gunners.
Still, with this being the final home game of the campaign and an electric atmopshere expected, the Arsenal players will want to put on a show for the supporters.
Arsenal to win, 3-0.
Burnley team news
17:53 , Oli GentCaretaker manager Mike Jackson has no fresh injury concerns as he plots a victory that should be enough to ensure Burnley avoid finishing bottom of the table.
A late call will be made on midfielder Hannibal Mejbri after he picked up a knock in the 2-2 draw against Aston Villa. Josh Cullen, Connor Roberts and Jordan Beyer remain out.
Arsenal team news
17:45 , Oli GentMikel Arteta has named an unchanged team for Arsenal’s last three matches, but hopes of making it four in a row have been dashed with Ben White ruled out for the rest of the season.
The defender sustained a serious knee injury during the 1-0 win over West Ham and is likely to be replaced by Cristhian Mosquera at right-back with Jurrien Timber still sidelined.
Mikel Merino, too, is not ready to make a return despite making good progress following surgery. Riccardo Calafiori is a doubt after being replaced at half-time against the Hammers.
Captain Martin Odegaard impressed as a substitute at the London Stadium and could be rewarded with a start.
How to watch
17:38 , Oli GentTV channel: In the UK, the game will be televised live on Sky Sports. Coverage begins at 6.30pm BST on Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Main Event.
Live stream: Sky Sports subscribers can also catch the contest live online via the Sky Go app.
Hello and welcome!
17:31 , Oli Gent... to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Arsenal’s second-to-last game of their Premier League season.
The Gunners could move to within one match of the title with a victory here, a result that would put a five-point buffer between themselves and Manchester City overnight.
Stay tuned for all the updates, with kick off at 8pm BST.
