Arsenal closed in on a first Premier League title in 22 years by seeing out a tense 1-0 win over Burnley on Monday (May 18, 2026) in its penultimate game of the campaign, thanks to Kai Havertz’s first-half goal.

The result means second-placed Manchester City must end Bournemouth’s 16-game unbeaten run on Tuesday (May 19) to take the title fight into the final weekend. Even so, Arsenal will be crowned champion if it beats Crystal Palace away on Sunday.

It would be Arsenal’s first league title since 2004, when the “Invincibles” went unbeaten under Arsene Wenger.

Current manager Mikel Arteta is two wins away from delivering the club’s greatest ever season as Arsenal also plays Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final on May 30.

“It’s been an amazing season so far. We’ve got one big one left here (in the league) and then the Champions League final,” Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard told the Emirates crowd in an on-field interview. “Just a little bit to go now and we’re going to give it all. We have to keep going.”

Another set-piece goal

Fittingly, the goal against already relegated Burnley came from a corner — the source of so many crucial Arsenal goals this season — as Havertz rose highest to head in a delivery from Bukayo Saka in the 37th.

It was only Havertz’s second league goal of an injury-ravaged season, but he was given the start up front ahead of Viktor Gyökeres by Arteta.

“I had a feeling that he had to start,” Arteta said. “The way they set up, I think he could be really difficult to handle. And he’s shown that.”

Havertz was fortunate not to be sent off when he received only a yellow card in the 67th for a lunging studs-up tackle from behind on Lesley Ugochukwu, a decision that was upheld after a VAR review.

While Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya never had a save to make against a toothless Burnley side, the lead never felt completely comfortable as a second goal never came for the host.

But Arsenal held on through nearly 10 minutes of added time to take another step toward ending its decades-long title drought.

“There is one to go unless something beautiful happens tomorrow night,” Arteta said, adding he will be “the biggest ever” Bournemouth fan during the game against Man City.

The Premier League title race is not over yet. Manchester City cut Arsenal’s lead at the top of the standings back to two points after beating Crystal Palace 3-0 at the Etihad Stadium.

With two rounds of the season to go it means Arsenal will have to wait another week at least to be confirmed champion.

Mikel Arteta’s team plays relegated Burnley on Monday and a victory would leave City needing to beat Bournemouth 24 hours later to take the title race into the final day of the season.

“We’ve seen a lot of things can happen on the final day,” City forward Phil Foden told Sky Sports.

“I’ve experienced it many times when the game doesn’t go your way, so we just have to keep pushing and doing our part.”

City plays Chelsea in the FA Cup final before all that and Pep Guardiola appeared to have Saturday’s Wembley showdown in mind by making six changes to his team. But even without Erling Haaland, Rayan Cherki and Jeremy Doku in his starting lineup, City won comfortably.

Foden — making a rare start in recent months — provided assists for both of City’s first half goals.

His backheel created an opening for Antoine Semenyo to open the scoring after 32 minutes and he set up Omar Marmoush for City’s second eight minutes later.

Savinho added a third in the 84th.

The size of City’s win could yet be significant as it moved one ahead of Arsenal on goal difference.

Guardiola is targeting his seventh league title at City. He has never gone back-to-back seasons without winning a league title in his entire coaching career at Barcelona, Bayern Munich and City.

“Unfortunately it’s not in our hands,” Guardiola said.

“It’s not easy, but it’s important that we are there. This group of players are all extraordinary.”