Arsenal will, this week, discover if their 22-year wait to win the Premier League title is successful or not after the latest twist in their thrilling fight with Manchester City.
The Gunners had crucially wrestled back the initiative from Pep Guardiola’s domestic treble chasers in recent weeks having lost 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium in a crunch clash last month, winning all their games since then and also progressing past Atletico Madrid into the Champions League final, where they will meet reigning French champions and holders Paris Saint-Germain in Budapest on May 30.
Nervy 1-0 triumphs over Newcastle and West Ham - the latter featuring no shortage of VAR controversy - were sandwiched between a far more comfortable victory against Fulham, with Arsenal going back to the top-flight summit and opening up a five-point lead as City could only salvage a last-gasp draw in a six-goal thriller against Everton.
But that was always in the knowledge that City possessed in their pocket a game in hand at home to Crystal Palace, which was eventually rearranged for last week. It was must-win territory for Guardiola’s men against a Palace side sitting down in 15th place and with one eye firmly fixed on the Conference League final.
Arsenal fans appeared to be given hope of another stumble after the City boss made six changes from Saturday’s 3-0 win over Brentford amid a brutal fixture schedule to end the season ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup final showdown with Chelsea at Wembley - with the likes of Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku and Rayan Cherki all left on the bench - but City ran out relatively comfortable 3-0 winners.
On to Monday night then and it was another night of nervous and anxiety in north London as Arsenal squeaked past already relegated Burnley 1-0 thanks to a goal from a corner. Kai Havertz headed home Bukayo Saka’s inch-perfect cross to break the deadlock in the first half, after Leandro Trossard had hit the post. Havertz escaped what appeared a clear red card in the second half.
It was the final match of the season at the Emirates and a win which took Arsenal five points clear of City, who have a game in hand ahead of Sunday’s season finale.
When can Arsenal win Premier League title after Gunners beat Burnley?
So, it’s again over to City to do the business as they travel to Champions League-chasing Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on Tuesday evening.
The game has taken on greater relevance following reports that manager Pep Guardiola will leave the club at the end of the season.
The only scenario that will now see the title decided before the final day is if City have any kind of slip-up on the south coast. City cannot hope to win it before the final day.
In the scenario that City win tonight, Arsenal would carry a two-point advantage into their final-day trip to face a Palace side at Selhurst Park who may be distracted by the prospect of their first European final, which takes place only three days later against Rayo Vallecano in Leipzig.
Palace manager Oliver Glasner has already confirmed that his team selection will be “full strength”, having a week prior heavily suggested he would play a weakened line-up.
