TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A narrow victory for Arsenal over Burnley has intensified the title race in the Premier League. In fact, Arsenal's coach Mikel Arteta is now hoping for AFC Bournemouth's support to stop their rival, Manchester City.
Arteta admitted that he will be supporting AFC Bournemouth after Arsenal secured a narrow 1-0 win over Burnley at the Emirates Stadium in the early hours of Tuesday, May 19, 2026. This narrow win has brought Arsenal closer to their first Premier League title since 2004.
A solitary goal by Kai Havertz with a header in the first half secured the victory for Arsenal. This result means that The Gunners only need one more win against Crystal Palace in the last match of the season to secure the title. Arsenal could also be crowned as champions directly if Manchester City fails to win at Bournemouth's home.
When asked if he would support Bournemouth, Arteta replied, "I will be the biggest supporter that there has ever been. I think we all support Bournemouth because we know what it means."
Arteta also admitted that the pressure of the title race has started to take its toll on him, especially approaching the Manchester City match, which could be the decider. "I think the hair I have will never fall out, but this job really tests me to the maximum extent," he said.
Arteta added, "I don't know how long I will watch it, but I will be in front of the TV. I don't know how long I will be able to watch it. I plan to watch it with my family, but I don't know until when."
On the other hand, Burnley's interim coach, Mike Jackson, felt that his team was disadvantaged by the referee's decision regarding Havertz's tackle on Lesley Ugochukwu in the 69th minute. According to Jackson, Havertz should have received a red card for the dangerous tackle. "I don't like to see players given a red card, but I have watched it again and in the manner the game is being officiated now, in my opinion, it was a red card," Jackson said.
Although the incident was reviewed by VAR, the referee Paul Tierney was not asked to look at the monitor on the sidelines. "It was dangerous, the tackle lifted his foot off the ground. It was a tactical foul to stop the play from the start, so I'm disappointed because with 20 minutes left, the situation could have changed the game."
Jackson also regretted Arsenal's winning goal, which once again originated from a set-piece situation. "We knew they were dangerous from set-pieces," he said. "There is usually a player who fails to mark his opponent, but those small details are what sets apart the best teams."
Read: Premier League Table: Liverpool Slip to Fifth, Man United Hold Third
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News