Mikel Arteta says he will be the “biggest” Bournemouth fan ever on Tuesday night – with his Arsenal side now on the brink of winning the Premier League title.
The Gunners’ 1-0 win over Burnley on Monday Night Football means Arteta’s Arsenal will be crowned champions if Manchester City do not win at Bournemouth, live on Sky Sports.
Tuesday 19th May 7:00pm
Kick off 7:30pm
In City’s way is Bournemouth head coach and Arteta’s childhood friend Andoni Iraola – who grew up with and played in the same youth team as the Arsenal manager in the Basque Country.
And after City boss Pep Guardiola supported West Ham against Arsenal last week, Arteta has shown his support for Bournemouth, who are currently on a 16-game unbeaten run, the longest of its kind in Europe’s top five leagues.
“The biggest ever!” said Arteta if he’s going to be a Bournemouth fan on Tuesday.
“For Andoni, and all the players and all the supporters of Bournemouth, I think we are all [Bournemouth fans] because we know what it means if they get a result.”
Asked if he will send Iraola any message or advice, Arteta said: “I don’t think it’s needed.
“What he’s done in that football club, the transformation, what they are playing for, I don’t think they need anything else.
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Highlights from the Premier League match between Arsenal and Burnley.
“When you look at how Burnley played today, the spirit that they show, how difficult they made it, imagine [Bournemouth].”
Arteta has admitted he will not watch the game with the Arsenal players tomorrow, but he will have it on at home while spending the evening with his family
“I don’t know how long I am going to watch it,” he said. “I will be there in front of the TV but I don’t know how much I am going to be able to watch it, that is the reality.”
Arteta: This job is going to test how much hair I have!
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Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta’s post-match reaction to beating Burnley and moving one step closer to the Premier League title.
Arteta’s Arsenal had another nervy night at the Emirates. Kai Havertz put Arsenal in front on the stroke of half-time – but the German forward then avoided a red card for a high challenge on Lesley Ugochukwu.
“Well I was certainly worried when they were checking it,” said Arteta about the call. “When I looked at the bench they said it wasn’t, but I haven’t had a look at the action.”
Arsenal produced their eighth 1-0 win of this Premier League season – with ‘One Nil to the Arsenal’ being the second-most common scoreline in the top-flight this term.
Asked how he handles the nerves, Arteta replied: “I don’t know. I thought that the amount of hair that I have, it is never going to go away. But I think this job is going to test it to the limit.”
Analysis: This was the story of Arsenal’s season
Sky Sports’ Sam Blitz at the Emirates Stadium:
It was a match that sums up Arsenal’s entire Premier League season. Set-piece goal, clean sheet, a little bit nervy. But they came out with a win.
Now they have Manchester City where they want them. On Tuesday night, Arsenal will sit back in their homes and see if Pep Guardiola can break the longest unbeaten run in Europe at Bournemouth. Andoni Iraola’s side have not lost in the last 16 matches – ahead of his final home game in charge of the Cherries.
What a difference a month makes for Arsenal.
On April 19 they had been beaten by Manchester City. Erling Haaland was in a singing mood about City’s title chances – and a banner branded ‘Panic on the Streets of London’ was unveiled by the City fans.
On May 19, they could be crowned champions.
As Arsenal fans unveiled before the game, it’s actually ‘Party on the Streets of London’. Arsenal have not conceded a goal from open play since that City game. The defensive solidity is set to get the Gunners over the line.
They are 180 minutes – or possibly just 90 – away from glory.
Neville and Carragher on if the title will be decided on Tuesday
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Gary Neville says believes Arsenal are on the brink of their first Premier League title in 22 years after defeating Burnley 1-0 at The Emirates.
Sky Sports’ Gary Neville:
“From a Man City side, that result can hurt them because it is just two games to go for them and one for Arsenal now.
“They may go to the game tomorrow feeling a little bit disappointed with the result today.”
Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher on Arsenal’s final day game at Crystal Palace:
“You think of the Aston Villa situation, if they win the Europa League and celebrate what are they then like against Man City?
“The last time Oliver Glasner was in a European final, the game before, four days before, he only changed one player.
“Palace don’t have a huge squad, so if you go back on what Oliver Glasner’s done in the past, he played pretty much a full-strength team.
“The nerves will really kick in for Arsenal this week if Man City win tomorrow. You saw tonight – it was a little bit edgy.
“It might do them a little bit of good being away from home. You can feel the tension in the stadium.”
