‘Biggest Bournemouth fan ever’ – Arteta eyes City slip to seal Arsenal glory

By Jessica Afuye

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has declared he will be the “biggest Bournemouth fan ever” on Tuesday night as his side move to the brink of winning the Premier League title following a tense 1 – 0 win over Burnley at the Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners’ hard-fought victory on Monday Night Football keeps them firmly in control of the title race, with Arteta’s men now in a position where they could be crowned champions if Manchester City fail to beat AFC Bournemouth in their next fixture.

With the stakes now shifting beyond Arsenal’s own results, attention has turned to Bournemouth’s midweek clash — a match that carries huge implications for the destination of the Premier League trophy.

City are set to face Bournemouth, managed by Arteta’s close friend Andoni Iraola, in what could ultimately determine whether the title race is mathematically concluded.

Arteta, speaking ahead of the decisive set of fixtures, openly admitted he will be rooting for Bournemouth, highlighting both professional respect and personal friendship as key reasons for his support.

“The biggest ever!” he said when asked how strongly he would back Bournemouth on Tuesday night.

“For Andoni, and all the players and supporters of Bournemouth, we are all [Bournemouth fans] because we know what it means if they get a result.”

Iraola, who shares a long-standing friendship with Arteta dating back to their youth football days in the Basque Country, now finds himself at the centre of Arsenal’s title hopes.

Interestingly, City manager Pep Guardiola had recently acknowledged support for West Ham in a similar title race context, adding a layer of rivalry narrative to the closing stages of the season.

Despite the emotional subplot, Arteta insisted he would not be in direct contact with Iraola ahead of the game.

“I don’t think it’s needed,” he said. “What he’s done at that football club, the transformation, what they are playing for – they don’t need anything else.”

The Arsenal boss also admitted he would not watch the match in the company of his players, choosing instead to follow events from home with his family.

“I will be there in front of the TV,” he said, “but I don’t know how much I will be able to watch. That is the reality.”

His comments came on the back of another crucial Arsenal performance, as they edged Burnley 1–0 in a tightly contested encounter that demanded patience, discipline and resilience.

Arsenal controlled large portions of the game, with Declan Rice anchoring midfield and Martin Ødegaard dictating play, while Bukayo Saka remained a constant threat on the right flank.

Burnley, however, frustrated the league leaders for long spells with a compact defensive structure, limiting clear chances and forcing Arsenal to rely on set-pieces for breakthrough moments.

The decisive goal arrived in the first half when Kai Havertz powered home a header from a corner, sending the Emirates into relief after sustained pressure from the visitors.

After the break, Burnley pushed higher in search of an equaliser, but Arsenal’s defensive unit, led by William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães, held firm under increasing pressure.

Goalkeeper David Raya also produced key interventions to preserve the narrow advantage as Burnley intensified their late push.

At full-time, Arsenal fans celebrated not just the victory, but the growing possibility that the Premier League title could be secured depending on results elsewhere.