Arsenal

Prudent Nsengiyumva
BBC Sport journalist

Arsenal can't seal the Premier League title on Monday night (20:00 BST), even with a win, after Man City's midweek victory pushed any celebrations back. But three points would edge them closer to ending a 22 year wait. Burnley, already relegated, have nothing at stake — yet they've shown they can still upset bigger plans.

Gunners in dreamland with two games to clinch the title

Arsenal have spent three seasons living with the sting of near misses, always measured against a relentless Manchester City side that has dominated the Premier League.

Six titles in eight years, Arsenal finishing runners up three times, and every doubt that comes with it.

Even the 2-1 defeat in April at the Etihad felt, to many, like the script repeating itself.

That sense of scepticism only deepened on Wednesday night.

Mikel Arteta revealed in his press conference that he missed City's 3-0 dismantling of Palace as he was at a "good dinner", but digesting the scoreline later may have reinforced the level Arsenal must match.

This time, however, the picture is different.

The Gunners are 180 minutes from ending a two decade wait for the title.

Burnley first, then Crystal Palace.

Win both, and the trophy finally returns to north London for the first time since 2004.

No games in hand for City. No late surge to overhaul them.

And they seem to have turned last season's pain into a habit of meeting these moments head on.

Arteta's men couldn't have asked for a more favourable opponent either, on paper.

They've lost just one of their 19 Premier League games against Burnley and have been ruthless against relegated sides, winning all 10 such fixtures that season.

Control has been their trademark.

Eighteen clean sheet wins, seven by 1-0, and a bench that keeps delivering—17 goals scored or assisted by substitutes.

The opportunity is there to finish the job and put that "bottle jobs" tag to bed once and for all.

Burnley relegated, but still dangerous

Burnley are already down but far from passive. Last weekend's 2-2 draw with Aston Villa — against a side chasing the Champions League — showed they can still cause problems. They opened the scoring, created enough chances to win, and refused to fold even after falling 2-1 behind. It is exactly the sort of warning Arsenal cannot ignore.

But this may still be a tall order for even the most optimistic Clarets fans. Mike Jackson's side have taken just one win from their last 27 league games, and a trip to the Emirates rarely ends well.

Burnley have never scored more than once in a Premier League match against the Gunners. Their record in final away games is thin too, with only two wins in nine top flight seasons.

Still, the fight they showed against Villa suggests they won't simply fade away. Arsenal, with everything on the line, know complacency is the one opponent they cannot let in.

Chelsea have an interest in Aston Villa attacking midfielder Morgan Rogers but Arsenal, Manchester United and Paris St-Germain are also looking at the 23-year-old England international. (Talksport), external

Arsenal are believed to be open to selling Brazil striker Gabriel Jesus for £30m, with the 29-year-old having been linked with AC Milan and Juventus. (Caught Offside), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

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It is Arsenal's title. They are not going to blow it now, against Burnley.

I can see it being quite a comfortable evening for the Gunners, actually. The home crowd will be nervous until they score but I can see Mikel Arteta's side making an early breakthrough.

As much as Burnley are still scrapping, which they showed with their draw against Aston Villa last week, they have frustrated their own supporters much more than they have frustrated the opposition this season.

Arsenal are a much better team and, whether it comes from a set-play or open play, they will have too much for them.

Sutton's prediction: 3-0

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Image source, Arsenal

Arsenal have released their 2026-27 home kit.

The Gunners say the inspiration behind the kit is celebrating 20 years of playing at Emirates Stadium and features "subtle visual references" to the arena, "including a bespoke crewneck collar inspired by the sweeping rooflines and subtle red patterning across the body".

Captain Martin Odegaard said: "Wearing this shirt means representing something much bigger than ourselves. We carry the pride and belonging felt by our supporters around the world.

"Our connection with them inspires us and I feel so proud to wear this kit and to honour what this badge and what Arsenal stands for."

Friday's kit launch follows the announcement of a new multi-year agreement with payroll and HR platform Deel to become the club's official sleeve partner from the start of next campaign.

Alex Bysouth
BBC Sport Senior Journalist

There's something magical about those seconds before the FA Cup final kicks off. Trumpets and tin-foil trophies, players as tense as the travelling fans, gaffers pacing the dugout in full club suits. The anticipation of a new hero emerging.

Some goals, though, are written in FA Cup folklore, rolled out for every cup final montage - they're the belters, the moments of individual magic, the strikes that sealed shock wins.

I've chosen 10 that make an all-time list and here are a couple of them. See how they ranked by accessing the full article at the bottom of this post.

Charlie George - Arsenal v Liverpool 1971

The celebration is iconic. Charlie George in yellow, laying down on his back, arms outstretched, lifting his head and scruffily sideburned cheeks before he is mobbed by Arsenal team-mates after scoring the winner against Liverpool deep into extra time.

You can almost sense the burning quads and cramping calf muscles through the grainy footage as George plays a one-two before lashing a strike beyond Ray Clemence from the edge of the box to seal Arsenal a league and cup double.

"As soon as it left my foot, I knew it was a goal," said the maverick Gunners forward.

Ray Parlour - Arsenal v Chelsea 2002

Ray Parlour was never prolific. In fact, he had only scored once in 37 games all season before Arsenal's FA Cup final against Chelsea in 2002.

But the 'Romford Pele' could produce when it mattered. With 20 minutes to go at Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, the midfielder's sweaty curls could be spotted bounding through blue shirts to pick up Sylvain Wiltord's pass.

Parlour looked like he wanted to shift the ball on to a team-mate but, as William Gallas and Marcel Desailly backed off, suddenly he had room 30 yards out to curl an effort beyond despairing goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini.

Freddie Ljungberg scored a special solo effort of his own 10 minutes later to take the trophy back to north London.

See my 10 selections in full

Arsenal are interested in Mateus Fernandes and are open to selling Denmark midfielder Christian Norgaard, 32. (The Times - subscription required), external

They are also monitoring Sporting Lisbon and Denmark midfielder Morten Hjulmand, 26. (Caught Offside), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

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Image source, Getty Images

We asked you to put yourselves in Mikel Arteta's shoes and suggest what you would do to solve Arsenal's lack of right-back options for the final games of this season.

Here are some of your suggestions:

Will: I would play Cristhian Mosquera at right-back against Burnley. That way Jurrien Timber can get his fitness back for the Crystal Palace game, and then hopefully be ready for Paris St-Germain after getting some game time the previous week.

Neil: I would start Mosquera in a back four with William Saliba, Gabriel and Myles Lewis-Skelly. Another option is shifting Saliba to right-back and playing Riccardo Calafiori at centre-back with Gabriel and Lewis-Skelly.

Kieran: It's not tried and tested but I wouldn't be so worried about throwing Christian Norgaard in at right-back. He has always done well when he has been given a chance and he could be a decent option given we seem to have a lot of midfielders. However, I can't fault Mosquera for his efforts either so I wouldn't mind him continuing in that role as well.

Kyle: I would play Mosquera. He has been used there before and he coped relatively well. It makes most sense. Any other choice would be strange - for example, Declan Rice.

Lew: The obvious answer would be putting Mosquera there but, with Lewis-Skelly playing in midfield at the moment, you could try putting Martin Zubimendi in as a right-back who drifts into midfield - a bit like Trent Alexander-Arnold did at Liverpool. Just please don't put Rice in at right-back. It kills our midfield and the job he does there is massively important.

Colin: If Timber can't make it, it has to be Mosquera - but young Marli Salmon must be on the bench. We can't waste Rice at right-back again. Lewis-Skelly has proven his worth and should partner Rice in midfield, but if Zubimendi is looking good in training then both he and Lewis-Skelly should share minutes in each of the remaining games.

BBC Sport football issues correspondent Dale Johnson has written this piece looking at how VAR has this week been involved in two big decisions in title races in both England and Scotland - and in the case of the Premier League, the relegation battle too.

So we asked supporters of clubs involved - including Arsenal fan writer Chris Howard - what it says about how VAR is working...

Image source, Getty Images

As a matchgoing supporter, I experience the agony of a VAR "wait" call on a regular basis, and I am not a fan. But Pandora's box has been open, kids, so we all need to reframe our relationship with it.

And I think we also have to go back to what we all want from VAR.

We hear "consistency" and "getting the right decision" as the key reasons. The first part can be debated, but I do feel that when the decisions aren't extremely subjective - "that's never a pen!" - VAR does often get things right.

The noise around West Ham's goal was not about the decision in isolation, it was partisan fans, commentators and ex-players having their say and trying to create noise and get themselves profiled.

We do, however, need to look at those in charge of VAR and a review of the people behind the screens is something that needs to be done sooner rather than later.

Find more from Chris Howard at Suburban Gooners, external and the Same Old Arsenal Podcast, external

Alex Howell
Arsenal reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Mikel Arteta has said that Jurrien Timber is doing "everything he can" to be fit for the climax of Arsenal's run-in.

The full-back has not featured for the Gunners since coming off in the first half of their 2-0 win over Everton in March.

The right-back position is now a problem area for Mikel Arteta as alongside Timber, Ben White has also been ruled out for the season with a knee ligament injury.

Timber has been spotted around the squad before the games against Atletico Madrid and West Ham last week as he tried to come back in time for Arsenal's title push and the Champions League final.

"He wanted to be very close to the team," Arteta said of Timber's presence despite not being in the squad.

"He's progressed a little bit in the past few days. He's feeling better. We're going to try to get him fit and available as quick as possible, but let's see.

"He has been out now for a while, unfortunately. He is such an important player for us - we all know that - and he is doing everything that he possibly can to help the team in any capacity.

"We know his leadership, his quality and how much the team needs him."

Alongside White, who Arteta said is out for the "long term", Riccardo Calafiori came off at half-time of Arsenal's dramatic 1-0 win at West Ham, but the Gunners boss is unsure if the Italian will be available for Arsenal's final home match against Burnley on Monday.

"No, we don't know whether it's going to be a better one - we still have days ahead. Hopefully it's nothing serious but we'll have to wait and see how we react to that," he said.

Arteta said Cristhian Mosquera could be "an option" in the defensive line, but added that he is keen on being "flexible" and "open to not only one but two or three" solutions amid his right-back conundrum.

So what would you do about the right-back situation if you were Arteta?

Tell us here

Millie Sian
BBC Sport journalist

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been speaking to the media before Monday's Premier League game against Burnley at Emirates Stadium (kick-off 20:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• It is unknown if defender Riccardo Calafiori will be fit after he was forced off with a muscle injury at half-time last time out: "We still have a few days ahead of us. Hopefully it is nothing serious, but we'll have to wait and see how he reacts."

• Jurrien Timber, who is struggling with a recurring ankle injury, is "feeling better" and has "progressed a little bit" this week. The aim is to get the defender "fit and available as quick as possible" because he is "such an important player". Arteta added: "He is doing everything he possibly can to help the team in any capacity. There is a chance he could play - I cannot tell you how big the chance is."

• When asked if injured Ben White will miss the World Cup, he replied: "It looks like a long-term injury so, at the moment, the focus is on when we will get him back available for Arsenal. That isn't going to happen for many, many weeks."

• The Gunners will be forced to "look at alternatives" at right-back going into the final run-in. However, he reiterated: "We have experienced this all over the pitch this season. When we've had other issues, they've normally been in the same positions as well. Each time, we have managed to find the right level of performance and consistency, so I'm sure we can do it."

• Cristhian Mosquera could be "an option" in the defensive line, but Arteta is keen on being "flexible" and "open to not only one but two or three options" amid his right-back conundrum.

• Following the 1-0 win over West Ham, the Gunners are "living in the moment", the players' emotions are "in a really good state" and the "energy level is right". There is also a sense of "enthusiasm and positivity" going into the final two league games of the season.

• On whether the importance of goal difference is in the back of his mind, Arteta said: "We have to win the games first of all - then we can make the difference with more goals, as obviously that's even better. But we are playing some very tough matches. Goal difference is part of the narrative. There are various factors, though, and this could just be one of them. It is a factor that has been important since the start of the season."

• On Red Action confirming another 'meet the bus' event before Monday night's game, Arteta said: "I loved it and I think the players all loved it [last time]. It builds an energy and a connection with the fans that we haven't experienced before. The whole preparation showed the level of meaning was higher, and the atmosphere showed the level of passion from our supporters was different as well. It really helped us."

• Arteta didn't watch Manchester City's 3-0 win over Crystal Palace on Wednesday. When asked if the result changes his plan of attack for the remaining games, he replied: "It changes nothing. We only focus on the things that are in our hands. We are focused on preparing in the best way possible to beat Burnley."

Follow all of Thursday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

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Alex Howell
Arsenal reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Mikel Arteta is hosting an early press conference before Arsenal's final home game against Burnley.

The supporters are planning another demonstration to welcome the players when they arrive at Emirates Stadium. They did it for the first time before the second leg of the Champions League semi-final against Atletico Madrid.

Arteta has been dealt a blow after Ben White was ruled out for the season with a knee ligament injury, and with Jurrien Timber also injured, the Arsenal manager has thinking to do about what to do at right-back for their last three games of the season.

This is what Manchester City's win over Crystal Palace does to the Premier League table.

After 36 games played, only two points separate leaders Arsenal and Manchester City.

It will all come down to the final two rounds of the season.

Arsenal's remaining fixtures:

Arsenal v Burnley - 18 May, 20:00 BST

Crystal Palace v Arsenal - 24 May, 16:00 BST

Man City's remaining fixtures:

Bournemouth v Man City - 19 May, 19:30 BST

Man City v Aston Villa - 24 May, 16:00 BST

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

Image source, Getty Images

Football should be fun but at this time of the season the stress levels can edge towards being dangerous.

In east London on Sunday, Arsenal piled the mental pressure on themselves with a strange approach to their must-win game against West Ham. The good start crashed after Ben White's injury. Declan Rice, the most influential player on the pitch, was pulled from the centre of proceedings and plonked at right-back to accommodate substitute Martin Zubimendi, a fine but lesser presence in the midfield. Why did Mikel Arteta do that? He could have slotted Cristhian Mosquera in at full-back with minimal disruption.

It was a mystifying call. Was Arteta overthinking or maybe over stressing? West Ham immediately found confidence and began to take part instead of just spectating. The mistake was rectified at half-time as the Arsenal manager readjusted before the next incomprehensible decision – allowing his team to slow the game down to a crawl.

There was a period of almost two entire minutes near the start of the second half when Arsenal passed it aimlessly around the back and midfield without the merest thought of making a serious forward pass.

Fortunately, the willingness to take some risks and add some chaos arrived with Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz. Was this genius planning by Arteta to leave it this late to push on? Was it him finally getting it right after trial and error? Or was it desperation by himself and his players?

It could have back fired and it nearly did, but they got away with it by the skin of their teeth.

Former Premier League assistant referee Darren Cann has outlined his idea to improve how corners are officiated in future.

In the aftermath of weekend controversy over players grappling in the penalty area, he has told BBC Sport a rule whereby attacking players cannot enter the six-yard box until a corner has been taken would be his preference.

Ex-Premier League defender Nedum Onuoha backed the idea and thinks it will add "creativity" to corner kicks and the move would force "people to think in a different way".

You can watch a clip of the debate above, with Onuoha stating: "Twenty players standing in the six-yard box, you have to ask yourself, is that what you want to see? And is that the best version of the game?"

• Listen to the show in full on BBC Sounds

• Watch the show in full on iPlayer

Ben White could turn down a move to Everton this summer if the England defender, 28, receives assurances about his playing time at Arsenal. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

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Alex Howell
Arsenal reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal defender Ben White is set to miss the rest of the season with a knee injury - and is a huge doubt for England's World Cup squad.

White had just returned to the England team for the first time in more than three years, in the recent friendlies against Uruguay and Japan in March, with the defender scoring in the draw against Marcelo Bielsa's side.

It will also be a personal blow to miss out on what could be an historic end to the season for the Gunners with the chance for two trophies just three games away.

White put in an excellent performance in the Champions League second leg against Atletico Madrid and his partnership with Bukayo Saka on Arsenal's right-hand side has flourished since he returned to the side.

Now the worries about the season run-in and who to play right-back will be on the Arsenal manager's mind.

Jurrien Timber is still out with a groin injury and Mikel Arteta played Declan Rice at right-back against West Ham before putting Cristhian Mosquera into that position for the rest of the match.

Mosquera has shown that he has the potential to be an elite defender but at just 21-years-old, it would be a big ask for him to start in a Champions League final against Paris St-Germain's elite attack.

In March, Thomas Tuchel recalled White to the England squad for the first time since the defender left camp at the Qatar 2022 citing "personal reasons".

White has six England caps and scored his first international goal in March after Tuchel introduced him in the second half of a friendly against Uruguay.

Read Sami Mokbel's piece on the news

Mikel Arteta might have prioritised solidity over excitability at times this season, but it could be a decision which brings Arsenal their first Premier League title in 22 years.

On the latest episode of BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club, former Premier League striker Chris Sutton said people "should be praising" the Gunners' approach, after going within touching distance of the title with an edgy 1-0 win over West Ham.

"Arsenal have done something different," Sutton added. "We should be applauding them because not everybody can keep up with the likes of Manchester City, Bayern Munich or Paris St-Germain in terms of playing the beautiful and expansive game.

"So if other teams have adapted to that, we shouldn't be kicking them for it because, at the end of the day, the end justifies the means.

"If Arsenal go on and win the Premier League and the Champions League, we should all be praising Mikel Arteta to the hills. It is genius from him.

"Arsenal tried to play the beautiful game for years under Arsene Wenger, but they didn't win a Premier League."

The Observer's football correspondent Rory Smith added: "Arsenal have exploited it and they should be credited for their ingenuity, but that doesn't mean it is a good thing [for the game].

"Dressing it up as a good thing is sophistry because it has ruined the spectacle [of modern football]."

Watch the full episode on BBC iPlayer and listen on BBC Sounds

Laura Kirk-Francis
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

I didn't initially see David Raya's remarkable save from Mateus Fernandes during Arsenal's win on Sunday because I already had my head in my hands.

It was a well-worked piece of play from the home team, with Fernandes just needing to place the ball anywhere but where he actually did to score. As he went through on goal, I simply couldn't watch.

Several hundred replays later and Raya's save could be the moment of the season. He has quietly become Arsenal's most important player and, in my opinion, should be considered our player of the season.

The Spaniard's rise to winning his third Golden Glove award in a row should be recognised as one of the early signs of Mikel Arteta's ability to identify and coach potentially elite players, all while being unafraid at upsetting the status quo.

It's easy to forget that when Raya was first brought into Arsenal, Aaron Ramsdale was one of the first names on the teamsheet.

Many fans, myself included, wondered why Arteta would upset his current number one by bringing in an outsider. Moreover, when Raya was eventually picked to start over Ramsdale, his first few games left fans wondering whether the fuss was worth it.

Arteta, and the coaching staff at Arsenal, deserve immense credit for what they saw in Raya and how he has improved season after season. His showreel of saves from this season, including Saturday's point-blank stop against West Ham, is extensive.

Fast-forward to 2026 and it's almost impossible to overstate the impact Raya has had on this team. In addition to his remarkable shot-stopping capability, he is integral in orchestrating Arsenal's build-up through his decisive distribution.

With Ramsdale the exception, Arsenal have for decades managed with a good, but perhaps not elite, goalkeeper.

Raya is perhaps the finest example that the much espoused "defence wins titles" almost definitely starts with exactly that - a world-class goalkeeper.

Find more from Laura Kirk-Francis at the Latte Firm podcast, external