Mikel Arteta to become 'biggest ever' Bournemouth fan as Arsenal title race goes down to the wire

Mikel Arteta admitted he will turn into the “biggest ever” Bournemouth fan on Tuesday night after Arsenal inched closer to their first Premier League title since 2004 with a narrow win over Burnley.

Kai Havertz’s first Premier League goal at home since last February – Arsenal’s record-extending 18th goal from a corner – was enough to see off a spirited Burnley side relegated weeks ago, although the Germany striker was lucky not to be shown a red card for catching Lesley Ugochukwu with his studs. The victory means that Manchester City must overcome Champions League-chasing Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium to take the title race to the final day, with both contenders now level on goal difference.

A draw or defeat would confirm Arsenal as champions for the first time in 22 years and Arteta revealed that he intended to watch the match at home with his family with his fingers firmly crossed.

“I will be there in front of the TV, but I don’t know how much I’m going to be able to watch it. I think that’s the reality,” he said.

Asked whether he would be supporting Andoni Iraola’s side for 24 hours after Pep Guardiola said “Come on you Irons” before their game against West Ham last week, Arteta added: “The biggest ever. For Andoni and all the players, all the people that are good supporters of Bournemouth, I think we are all, because we know what that means. What he’s done in that football club, the transformation, and what they are playing for us. I don’t think they need anything else.”

If City manage to beat Bournemouth then it will set up a mouthwatering final day when Guardiola’s side will need to beat Aston Villa and hope that Arsenal slip up against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, with Oliver Glasner having promised to field his strongest team despite his side contesting the Conference League final three days later. Arsenal’s players went on a lap of honour after the full-time whistle, with captain Martin Ødegaard addressing the crowd and promising they will “give it our all” to end the season with silverware. They have now racked up 19 clean sheets in the Premier League and not conceded a goal since losing to City last month.

“We’ve done what is in our hands,” said Arteta. “Since the Man City game away, we said it is five games, and it was in our hands. We’ve done four, and there is one to go.”

The Burnley interim manager, Michael Jackson, felt his side could have had a chance of equalising if Havertz had been sent off.

“It’s a red card. We’re disappointed because that could change the game for the last 20 minutes,” he said.