One more game! Soaring Havertz puts Arsenal on the cusp

Arsenal GFX

It was far from pretty, but Arsenal are one game away from the Premier League title after edging past already-relegated Burnley on Monday night courtesy of Kai Havertz's towering header from yet another set piece. The German forward rose to meet Bukayo Saka's corner shortly before half-time, although he was fortunate not be sent off later in the game. The 1-0 win means the Gunners will be champions if Manchester City drop points at high-flying Bournemouth on Tuesday.

Predictably it was attack vs defence from the outset as the Clarets sat in a low block and tried to stifle the wannabe champions, but it always looked like a matter of time before Arsenal found the net. Leandro Trossard smacked the base of the post after some neat combination with Eberechi Eze after a quarter of an hour, and Bukayo Saka's dangerous cross floated right across the face of goal.

The Gunners were convinced they should have had a penalty when Saka went down in the six-yard box when it looked easier to tap in Havertz's low cross. Replays showed he had kicked Lucas Pires' leg as he went to shoot, and the VAR didn't overturn the decision not to award a spot-kick.

It mattered little, though, as the hosts took the lead just three minutes later. Martin Odegaard's goal-bound strike was deflected wide and from the resulting corner Havertz soared high to nod his side in front. Saka came within a whisker of doubling the advantage just before half-time, but his trademark curling effort sailed just wide.

The second period would follow a similar pattern on what became an increasingly tetchy evening, with Eberechi Eze squandering two big openings in the space of two minutes not long after the restart, including a volley that was feathered onto the crossbar.

Havertz was at the centre of another flashpoint for the wrong reasons with around 20 minutes to play, escaping a red card despite lunging in on Lesley Ugochukwu and catching him high on the back of his leg as the VAR deemed that the foul didn't represent serious foul play. Arsenal breathed a sigh of relief and weathered a scrappy conclusion to the game to claim a vital three points.

The result means the north Londoners will be champions if City drop points against Bournemouth on Tuesday, otherwise they may well have to beat Crystal Palace on the final day as City face Aston Villa.

GOAL rates Arsenal's players from the Emirates...

Arsenal v Burnley - Premier League

Goalkeeper & Defence

David Raya (6/10):

Basically a spectator, although did have to scramble across his goal to watch an early shot go wide.

Cristhian Mosquera (6/10):

Actually did quite well offensively as he looked to combine with Saka. Defended watchfully on the few occasions he was required to.

William Saliba (6/10):

Pass, pass, pass. Did well in the battle against the physical physical Zian Flemming, too.

Gabriel Magalhaes (6/10):

Basically played as an auxiliary midfielder as he stepped forward to help build attacks.

Riccardo Calafiori (6/10):

A no-frills performance from the Italian, who got into a couple of decent positions offensively.

Arsenal v Burnley - Premier League

Midfield

Declan Rice (7/10):

Did his usual work and made a huge intervention inside the penalty area to protect the lead.

Martin Odegaard (6/10):

Guilty of taking too many touches at times but he was trying to play forward at every opportunity.

Eberechi Eze (6/10):

Always looked to make something happen. Spurned two decent openings and was lucky not to be punished for a loose pass, drawing the ire of the home support.

Arsenal v Burnley - Premier League

Attack

Bukayo Saka (7/10):

Perfect corner delivery for Havertz's header, and went so close to scoring a wonderful goal himself. Worked hard defensively.

Kai Havertz (7/10):

Snatched at one half-chance before soaring to nod Arsenal in front. Very fortunate not to have seen red later on before being hooked.

Leandro Trossard (7/10):

Unlucky to thump the post with a fierce low drive. Plenty of intelligent footwork and movement.

Arsenal v Burnley - Premier League

Subs & Manager

Piero Hincapie (6/10):

Probably didn't have the same influence as Calafiori but his job was to see it out.

Viktor Gyokeres (6/10):

Ran hard but couldn't find the opening to put the game beyond Burnley.

Myles Lewis-Skelly (6/10):

Got involved in the midfield battle as it became a bit of a scrap.

Gabriel Martinelli (N/A):

Thrown on in stoppage time.

Martin Zubimendi (N/A):

Same as Martinelli as Arteta looked to see out the game.

Mikel Arteta (6/10):

It really wasn't pretty, but it was all about the result for Arteta and his side. They will take the 1-0 all day long. One more game to go.