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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Sport
Miguel Delaney and Luke Baker

Arsenal v Burnley LIVE: Nervy Gunners scrape victory to move to brink of Premier League title

Arsenal vs Burnley live

  • Arsenal scrape past Burnley 1-0 to move five points clear of Man City in title race
  • The Gunners are now just one win, or a City slip-up against Bournemouth tomorrow, away from becoming champions
  • REPORT: Resolute Arsenal do it the hard way but Premier League title now within grasp
  • 67' - NO RED CARD! Havertz escapes with yellow card after nasty challenge on Ugochukwu [ARS 1-0 BUR]
  • 38' - GOAL! Havertz nods in Saka's corner for vital lead [ARS 1-0 BUR]

Resolute Arsenal do it the hard way but Premier League title now within grasp

22:32 , Luke Baker

Still one hand on the title, but only after Arsenal dragged themselves that bit closer.

If the story of the 2025-26 season is indeed to end with a first Premier League crown in 22 years, it will be with a script that has stayed as resolute as Mikel Arteta’s approach. This had all of the usual ingredients.

A set-piece goal. A 1-0. A VAR controversy. A lot of nerves. Arsenal again did it the hard way. They also, however, did enough. At least for now.

They got the victory over Burnley that puts them within one win of the title. It might yet be sooner than that if Manchester City fail to win at Bournemouth on Tuesday night.

Read Miguel Delaney’s full report from the Emirates this evening:

Resolute Arsenal do it the hard way but Premier League title now within grasp

What do Arsenal need to win the title?

22:04 , Luke Baker

Just a HUGE win for Arsenal.

It means that if they beat Crystal Palace on Sunday, they will be Premier League champions.

OR if Man City don’t win away at Bournemouth tomorrow, Arsenal will be champions.

It’s tantalisingly close...

(PA)

FULL-TIME! Arsenal 1-0 Burnley

21:57 , Luke Baker

Hard to say that was pretty but it’s three more points for Arsenal. One more win and they’ve got a first Premier League title for 22 years.

They might not even need that, if Bournemouth can do them a favour against Man City tomorrow.

Kai Havertz’s first-half header was enough here. Unconvincing but they’ve done enough. Arsenal’s season in microcosm?

(PA)

Arsenal 1-0 Burnley, 90+6 mins

21:54 , Luke Baker

Martinelli gets a chance to burst through as Gyokeres occupies a defender. But Kyle Walker, perhaps not as quick as he once was but still fast, gets back to muscle him off the ball and stop the shot. Vintage.

Arsenal 1-0 Burnley, 90+4 mins

21:52 , Luke Baker

Pires goes in with a reckless high foot on Saka and is the latest Burnley player into the book. More time off the clock as they take this free-kick.

Arsenal 1-0 Burnley, 90 mins

21:51 , Luke Baker

Burnley pump the ball into the box and Flemming absolutely clatters Raya without really going for the ball.

Gabriel is furious. It’s a foul and Flemming is booked. Raya rolls around on the floor for a bit, suggesting he’s in pain, holding his back. Perhaps he is. Either way, more time ticks away.

As it does when Arsenal make another two subs. Martin Zubimendi and Gabriel Martinelli on for Odegaard and Trossard

Into seven minutes of injury time.

Arsenal 1-0 Burnley, 88 mins

21:45 , Luke Baker

Lewis-Skelly gets his body across his man to win a free-kick for Arsenal. The minutes are slowly ticking by...

Arsenal 1-0 Burnley, 86 mins

21:43 , Luke Baker

Gyokeres has led the press really well since coming on. Harrying Burnley and his latest effort earns an attacking throw.

Ultimately it comes to nothing though

(Reuters)

Arsenal 1-0 Burnley, 82 mins

21:41 , Luke Baker

Arsenal pushing hard, the ball worked across to Hincapie but his cross is well blocked. The “Arsenal, Arsenal” chants ring round the Emirates regardless.

Arsenal 1-0 Burnley, 79 mins

21:37 , Luke Baker

Great press by Gyokeres as he closes down Burnley goalkeeper Weiss. It’s a panicked lunge to poke the ball clear in the end with the Swedish striker right on him.

Appeals from the arsenal fans behind the goal for a penalty but Weiss got the ball. Just a nervy moment for him!

Arsenal 1-0 Burnley, 77 mins

21:35 , Luke Baker

Hincapie gets to the byline and is muscled off the ball by Tuanzebe. Appeals for a penalty but nothing doing.

Another Burnley sub as James Ward-Prowse comes on for Florentino. They’re not quite out of this...

WATCH: Havertz escapes red card

21:33 , Luke Baker

A lucky boy? Should Kai Havertz have seen red for that?

Arsenal 1-0 Burnley, 70 mins

21:30 , Luke Baker

After that moment of madness that he got away with, Havertz is substituted off. That’s a sensible call from Arteta.

It’s a triple sub as Viktor Gyokeres, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Piero Hincapie on for Havertz, Eze and Calafiori

Meanwhile, double sub for Burnley as Josh Laurent and Zeki Amdouni come on for Hannibal and Ugochukwu.

RED CARD CHECK! Arsenal 1-0 Burnley, 67 mins

21:26 , Luke Baker

Ooooh, this could be bad news for Arsenal. This is not clever at all from Kai Havertz...

It’s a really nasty lunge from the German and he fouls Ugochukwu from behind. He rakes his studs down the back of the Burnley man’s calf, his standing leg.

He gets a yellow card, VAR checks it and determines that’s the correct call. I think he might be a little lucky there... That was properly nasty and could easily have been red.

(PA)

Arsenal 1-0 Burnley, 64 mins

21:23 , Luke Baker

Is frustration building for Arsenal? 1-0 is a dangerous score after all.

Viktor Gyokeres is warming up and may be introduced soon.

(Reuters)

Arsenal 1-0 Burnley, 60 mins

21:22 , Luke Baker

Arsenal probing and pressing but it’s still stuck at 1-0 here. Can they make the breakthrough?

Arsenal 1-0 Burnley, 51 mins

21:10 , Luke Baker

Burnley do have a shot. It’s sloppy from Eze in midfield, as Anthony cuts out his pass and strides forward. Flemming is in support but Anthony goes alone and shoots from distance but it’s comfortably over the bar

(Reuters)

Arsenal 1-0 Burnley, 51 mins

21:10 , Luke Baker

Burnley do have a shot. It’s sloppy from Eze in midfield, as Anthony cuts out his pass and strides forward. Flemming is in support but Anthony goes alone and shoots from distance but it’s comfortably over the bar

(Reuters)

Arsenal 1-0 Burnley, 49 mins

21:08 , Luke Baker

Arsenal dominating possession at the start of this second half once more. When Burnley do win the ball back, the Gunners press kicks into force.

They’ll feel a lot more comfortable once 2-0 up though.

KICK-OFF! Arsenal 1-0 Burnley

21:04 , Luke Baker

Back underway at Arsenal. Can the Gunners kill this game off, firstly, then perhaps boost their goal difference?

WATCH: Kai Havertz nods Arsenal ahead

20:54 , Luke Baker

Here is that goal from Kai Havertz. Pinpoint corner from Bukayo Saka nodded in by the German

HALF-TIME! Arsenal 1-0 Burnley

20:47 , Luke Baker

And that’s half-time. Arsenal have controlled this match from the word go and Kai Havertz turned that domination into a lead with his 38th-minute header home from a Bukayo Saka corner.

Arsenal will want a second to ease any nerves but so far, so good.

(Getty)

CLOSE! Arsenal 1-0 Burnley, 44 mins

20:45 , Luke Baker

Oooooh! So close to 2-0. It’s vintage Bukayo Saka. He cuts in from the right, shifts the ball on to his left foot and tries to curl one into the far corner.

He’s millimetres wide of the post, with Weiss sprawling!

Arsenal 1-0 Burnley, 42 mins

20:42 , Luke Baker

If this result stands, Arsenal would have one hand on the Premier League trophy and could officially win it as soon as tomorrow night

Arsenal 1-0 Burnley, 40 mins

20:41 , Luke Baker

What a moment for Arsenal and Kai Havertz. A BIG goal.

They have to be on their guard as Burnley immediately attack and win a corner but they deal with it and scramble clear.

GOAL! Arsenal 1-0 Burnley (Kai Havertz, 38 mins)

20:39 , Luke Baker

AND THERE’S THE BREAKTHROUGH! Saka whips in a gorgeous corner and Kai Havertz leaps to head home.

Weiss half-comes off his line but is nowhere near it and Havertz’s glanced header is more than enough for a 1-0 lead!

(PA)

Arsenal 0-0 Burnley, 37 mins

20:37 , Luke Baker

Arsenal really pushing now. Odegaard fires in a shot that Esteve does superbly to deflect behind for a corner.

NO PENALTY! Arsenal 0-0 Burnley, 35 mins

20:37 , Luke Baker

Big appeals for a penalty. The ball is played across the area, Saka on the six-yard box and tries to sweep it home with his left foot but Pires comes in from behind and the England international goes down.

Should he have scored regardless? It’s a coming together, I’ve seen them given but a VAR check and it’s cleared. No penalty for Arsenal.

Arsenal 0-0 Burnley, 33 mins

20:34 , Luke Baker

The fans are trying to urge Arsenal on but things have stagnated a little here.

The Gunners get into the box with Mosquera who goes down under Zian Flemming's challenge but he wins the ball.

Arsenal 0-0 Burnley, 28 mins

20:30 , Luke Baker

Hannibal vs Gabriel is becoming a feisty little battle. Hannibal goes in on the Arsenal defender again and this time he gets a yellow card for his troubles.

At the other end, Eze has a shot but it’s straight at Weiss.

(Reuters)

Arsenal 0-0 Burnley, 27 mins

20:28 , Luke Baker

Hannibal clatters Gabriel a little late and the Arsenal defender isn’t happy, refusing the Burnley man’s help as he gets up.

Hannibal then has an even bigger moment. Tchaouna breaks down the left and lofts the ball across to Hannibal as he bursts into the box. It needs composure but he snatches at it and lashes wide.

Arsenal 0-0 Burnley, 23 mins

20:25 , Luke Baker

Saka pinches the ball from Pires and feeds Havertz. Tries a give-and-go with Odegaard but the return pass is too heavy and goes out for a goal-kick.

Burnley have survived the first quarter of this game, although they’ve offered littler. Will Arsenal start to get a little nervy as the half wears on and they’re still goalless?

(Reuters)

Arsenal 0-0 Burnley, 19 mins

20:20 , Luke Baker

Arsenal have completely dominated this match so far and it feels like only a matter of time until they score.

Saka dinks a cross in from the right but it’s a shade too far and bounces out for a goal-kick.

POST! Arsenal 0-0 Burnley, 15 mins

20:16 , Luke Baker

Arsenal two inches away from taking the lead!

Eze and Trossard combine well and the Belgian has space on the edge of the box, to the left of centre. Cuts inside, rifles a shot that beats Weiss but cannons back out off the left post! So close!

(PA)

Arsenal 0-0 Burnley, 14 mins

20:15 , Luke Baker

Nice work by Saka to fashion some space and his shot is deflected wide for a corner. Arsenal go short and Trossard has space to find Havertz but he snatches at his shot and it flies wide.

It actually took a slight deflection off Flemming so should have been a corner but alas.

Arsenal 0-0 Burnley, 12 mins

20:13 , Luke Baker

Good defending by Calafiori as he shows Tchaouna to the outside and blocks the shot. Having the Italian fit is a huge boon for the Gunners.

There’s a bit of a coming together between Trossard and Flemming. Actually, Trossard knocked him to the floor after the Burnley striker went in hard (but fairly on Eze).

Not Trossard’s most sensible decision but just a talking-to from the ref

Arsenal 0-0 Burnley, 11 mins

20:11 , Luke Baker

Tchaouna clatters Eze out wide, giving Rice the opportunity to whip a cross in from the right.

He does so and Weiss manages to punch half-clear before Gabriel rifles an errant shot that almost falls into Havertz’s path but runs out for a goal-kick.

Arsenal 0-0 Burnley, 7 mins

20:08 , Luke Baker

Havertz bustling and busy early on, as you’d expect. He was selected ahead of Gyokeres today, who has scored nine goals in his last 13 Premier League games, so the German will need to justify his selection.

(PA)

Arsenal 0-0 Burnley, 4 mins

20:05 , Luke Baker

Better from Arsenal who attack and win a couple of throw-ins in good positions.

They go back to build slowly but the powder-blue Burnley wall holds firm

Arsenal 0-0 Burnley, 2 mins

20:03 , Luke Baker

Burnley start on the front foot and immediately win a corner. Surely not....?

They go short and win a second corner. But this one is half-cleared and Flornetino’s weak effort rolls harmlessly wide.

KICK-OFF! Arsenal 0-0 Burnley

20:01 , Luke Baker

Underway at the Emirates. It’s absolutely rocking again. Cracking atmosphere.

Arsenal v Burnley team news

19:59 , Luke Baker

A reminder of tonight’s teams.

Burnley unchanged from their 2-2 draw with Aston Villa, while Mikel Arteta has opted for Kai Havertz over Viktor Gyokeres up front. Riccardo Calafiori has shaken off a knock to start at left-back, witch Cristhian Mosquera parachuted in at right-back.

Arsenal XI: Raya; Mosquera, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Rice, Odegaard, Eze; Saka, Trossard, Havertz

Burnley XI: Weiss; Walker, Tuanzebe, Esteve, Pires; Luis, Ugochukwu; Tchaouna, Anthony, Hannibal; Flemming

Arsenal v Burnley

19:55 , Luke Baker

Warm-ups complete and we’re approaching kick-off at the Emirates on a huge evening

(Reuters)
(PA)
(PA)
(PA)

Champions League final won’t be free to watch in the UK for first time in modern era

19:46 , Luke Baker

Some bad news for Arsenal fans. For the first time since the European Cup became the Champions League 34 years ago, the final won’t be available to watch for free in the UK...

Full story:

Champions League final won’t be free to watch in the UK for first time in modern era

Mikel Arteta changes Arsenal routine before defining week of title race

19:39 , Luke Baker

After the emotional exhaustion of last Sunday, Mikel Arteta did something he hasn’t allowed too often this season. He loosened his grip. The Arsenal players were given three days off, before a planned barbecue on Thursday.

It’s a rare chance to just get their heads clear and then relax together as a group, before gearing up for this final push to make history.

The club are now just three games from more glory than Arsenal have ever experienced. Win three games and they end their longest ever wait for an English title and claim their first ever Champions League. That’s a lot to take in.

Little wonder Arteta felt the need for a bigger break than usual...

Read Miguel Delaney’s insight into Arsenal’s preparation ahead of this evening:

Arteta changes Arsenal routine before defining week of title race

Mikel Arteta explains why he selected Kai Havertz

19:27 , Luke Baker

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been talking to TNT Sports ahead of this evening’s clash.

On the selection of Kai Havertz over Viktor Gyokeres: “He [Havertz] is a different threat, has a lot of presence in the box obviously and he will have a lot of interactions with those two attacking midfielders to occupy different spaces to drag the centre-backs into different positions. We know that Kai has an incredible ability to do that.”

On Declan Rice’s new, deeper role: “With the chemistry that we have in the team and the players in and around him, there were two very specific opponents, and we had to change the setup in midfield to to be a bit more unpredictable and to create different kind of issues for the opponent. Since we've done that, Declan has played really well and he continues to play well.”

On whether they’ll chase goals to improve their goal difference: “As always, once we are ahead and we want to score more goals but we know how tough every game is. We just have to see the example of Burnley playing against Villa a few days ago [they drew 2-2]. We know the difficulty of the match and let's go step by step.”

(AP)

A record to be broken?

19:20 , Mike Jones

Arsenal have won all 10 of their Premier League games against sides already relegated that season, the best 100% record in the competition.

Arsenal are heavy favourites

19:13 , Mike Jones

Arsenal have lost just one of their 19 Premier League games against Burnley.

They went down 1-0 at home in December 2020.

The other 18 games have ended in four draws and 14 wins.

Declan Rice opens up on ‘biggest challenge’ England must overcome at World Cup

19:06 , Mike Jones

Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice has candidly admitted he is prepared to be "hated one minute and loved the next" as England embark on their quest to secure a first World Cup trophy in 60 years.

Rice, who is on the cusp of a remarkable Premier League and Champions League double with Arsenal, is expected to play a pivotal role for the national team this summer.

Declan Rice opens up on ‘biggest challenge’ England must overcome at World Cup

Burnley team news

18:59 , Luke Baker

Here’s how Burnley line up this evening. Mike Jackson has opted for an unchanged XI, keeping faith with the side that drew 2-2 with Aston Villa last time out.

Can Zian Flemming cause the Arsenal backline some issues?

Burnley XI: Weiss; Walker, Tuanzebe, Esteve, Pires; Luis, Ugochukwu; Tchaouna, Anthony, Hannibal; Flemming

How can Man City take it down to the wire?

18:54 , Mike Jones

If they beat Bournemouth in their next game, Manchester City would be able to take the title race to the final day of the season, where Arsenal are away at Crystal Palace and Guardiola’s side host Aston Villa.

Yet Arsenal dropping points would also mean City have the title in their hands again. If Arsenal drew to Burnley and City beat Bournemouth, the teams would be level on points heading into the final day and it would come down to goal difference, currently one in the Citizens’ favour.

However, the Gunners finish their season at a Palace team who will be preparing for a European final a few days later. City, similarly, will take on a Villa side who will have played a European final four days earlier.

Arsenal team news - Gyokeres dropped for Havertz

18:45 , Luke Baker

Here’s how Arsenal will line up tonight. Viktor Gyokeres has been dropped to the bench, with Kai Havertz preferred up top by Mikel Arteta.

Leandro Trossard, who has suddenly found a bit of form, also starts, as does skipper Martin Odegaard.

In defence, Riccardo Calafiori is fit to start at left-back in a big boost for the Gunners, while Cristhian Mosquera is the man parachuted in at right-back.

Arsenal XI: Raya; Mosquera, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Rice, Odegaard, Eze; Saka, Trossard, Havertz

One goal wonders

18:42 , Mike Jones

Burnley have never scored more than once in 19 Premier League meetings with Arsenal.

The most one side has faced any other without netting twice in a match in the competition.

Fans gearing up for a big evening

18:36 , Luke Baker

A huge evening for Arsenal. The fans outside the Emirates are already there in force. It could be a cracking atmosphere once again

(PA)
(PA)
(PA)
(Getty)

Arsenal defender Ben White to avoid surgery but World Cup dream set to be over

18:30 , Mike Jones

Arsenal defender Ben White will not require knee surgery – but remains set to miss England’s World Cup campaign.

The Gunners confirmed on Tuesday that White had suffered a “significant medial knee ligament injury” during their 1-0 win at West Ham.

Arsenal defender Ben White to avoid surgery but World Cup dream set to be over

More from Jackson

18:12 , Mike Jones

Burnley’s boss said: “We can’t influence everything that’s going on around it, all the noise.

“What we can do is we can make sure, like we did against Villa last week, that we’re still taking the competition really seriously and that’s what we’ll do.”

Mike Jackson watches Burnley’s loss to Leeds (Martin Rickett/PA) (PA Wire)

Tonight's game is an opportunity to perform

18:06 , Mike Jones

Burnley’s interim boss Mike Jackson spoke about how it feels for Burnley to potentially play a decisive role in the title.

“You look at a game like that, and you look at the importance of it, to everyone in the competition,” he said.

“But I think from our point of view, you’ve got to look at it as an opportunity as well. One, to be involved in a game like that.

“Two, to be really excited about that. And it’s a platform to then go and perform.”

Arsenal offered Jurrien Timber hope amid right-back injury crisis

18:00 , Mike Jones

Mikel Arteta believes Jurrien Timber has a “chance” to be fit for Arsenal’s Champions League final as the defender faces a race against time to resolve the club’s right-back crisis.

Ben White was ruled out of Arsenal’s pivotal run-in with a knee injury, while Timber has been absent for two months due to a groin problem.

Arsenal offered Jurrien Timber hope amid right-back injury crisis

Arsenal vs Burnley latest odds

17:54 , Mike Jones

Bettings sites have Arsenal as heavy favourites to defeat Burnley this evening and keep their charge to win the Premier League title on track.

Two wins from their last two games will ensure Mikel Arteta’s side get the job done but any dropped points could open the door for Manchester City.

Arsenal to win - 1/12

Draw - 10/1

Burnley to win - 25/1

Latest odds by bet365.

Man City's run-in

17:48 , Mike Jones

Played: 36 | Points: 77 | GD: 43

Remaining fixtures:

  • Tuesday 19 May: Bournemouth (a)
  • Sunday 24 May: Aston Villa (h)

Arsenal's run in

17:42 , Mike Jones

Played: 36 | Points: 79 | GD: 42

Remaining fixtures:

  • Monday 18 May: Burnley (h)
  • Sunday 24 May: Crystal Palace (a)
  • Saturday 30 May: PSG (Champions League final)

When could Arsenal win the Premier League?

17:36 , Mike Jones

Manchester City have closed the gap to two points after their win against Crystal Palace on Wednesday - but the Premier League title remains in Arsenal’s hands.

Arsenal’s next match is at home to Burnley on Monday, while City take on Bournemouth away next Tuesday after their FA Cup final match-up against Chelsea on Saturday.

If results go their way the Gunners could have the title won before the final weekend of the season but the likelihood is that they will need to win both of the remaining matches to secure the trophy.

How the biggest VAR decision yet might have won Arsenal the Premier League title

17:30 , Mike Jones

An arm extended, and one hand on the title.

Arsenal are now two victories from ending a 22-year wait, which was about what referee Chris Kavanagh’s survey of Pablo’s foul on David Raya felt like.

A crucial 1-0 was only stopped from becoming a costly 1-1, in the 94th minute, by one man’s interpretation of “wrestling” – as Nuno Espirito Santo put it – at a set-piece.

How the biggest VAR decision yet might have won Arsenal the Premier League title

Burnley's early team news

17:24 , Mike Jones

Burnley will have to make a late call on midfielder Hannibal Mejbri, who picked up a knock in the 2-2 draw against Aston Villa.

Connor Roberts, Jordan Beyer and Josh Cullen are still out injured.

Predicted Burnley XI: Weiss; Walker, Tuanzebe, Esteve, Pires; Luis Ugochukwu; Tchaouna, Anthony, Ward-Prowse; Flemming

Early team news for Arsenal

17:18 , Mike Jones

Ben White has been ruled out for the rest of the season for the Gunners and, with Jurrien Timber still not fit, Cristhian Mosquera looks set to fill-in at right-back.

Riccardo Calafiori is also a doubt after picking up a knock against West Ham.

Predicted Arsenal XI: Raya; Mosquera, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Rice, Lewis-Skelly, Odegaard; Trossard, Saka, Gyokeres

How can I watch it?

17:12 , Mike Jones

Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the match live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League. Coverage starts at 6:30pm.

When is Arsenal vs Burnley?

17:06 , Mike Jones

Arsenal vs Burnley is due to kick off at 8pm BST on Monday, 18 May at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal vs Burnley

14:58 , Mike Jones

Arsenal are two wins away from their first Premier League title in 22 years as they take on Burnley in their final home match of the season.

Leandro Trossard scored a late winner in Arsenal’s last match, which ended with the controversial VAR overturn of West Ham’s equaliser. It means the fate of the title race remains in Mikel Arteta’s hands - two wins will see the Gunners home.

Burnley, already relegated, registered a respectable point against Aston Villa last time out but caretaker boss Michael Jackson will have his work cut out on what is sure to be a memorable occasion at the Emirates.

The last time these two met, Viktor Gyokeres and Declan Rice were on the scoresheet in a comfortable 2-0 win at Turf Moor in November.

Arsenal are edging closer to Premier League glory (AP)

Good afternoon!

14:57 , Mike Jones

Welcome to The Independent’s coverage of tonight’s Premier League action which sees Arsenal take on Burnley at the Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners are looking to increase the pressure on Manchester City and keep the title race in their own hands but they know nothing less than a victory over the already relegated Clarets will do.

We’ll have all the team news, line-ups and more throughout the evening so stick with us as we build up to kick off at 8pm.

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