Arsenal secures a crucial 1-0 victory over Manchester United, intensifying the title race with Manchester City as the Premier League season heads into its final day.
MANCHESTER, England (AP) — The Premier League title race is going down to the wire.
Arsenal ensured that the competition will extend to the last day of the season by reclaiming the top spot in the standings with a hard-fought 1-0 victory at Manchester United on Sunday.
Leandro Trossard's decisive goal in the 20th minute at Old Trafford means that the London club will challenge defending champions Manchester City in the final round of games next Sunday.
"Today we wanted to really knock on that door and open that box of dreams, to experience the last and final day of the season in front of our people with the opportunity to win the Premier League," said Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta. "Everything is at stake. We had no margin for error since January."
A defeat for Arsenal against United could have handed the title to City, who play against Tottenham on Tuesday. However, Arteta's team delivered when it mattered, moving one point clear at the top of the table.
Arsenal will host Everton in the final round, when City is at home against West Ham after Tuesday’s game at Spurs.
For now, Arsenal has done all it could to keep the pressure on Pep Guardiola’s team — improving on last season when it suffered a late collapse to allow City to wrap up a third successive title with three games to spare.
While Manchester City holds the title fate in its grasp, securing victories in its final two games is imperative for a guaranteed fourth consecutive English league championship.
Meanwhile, Arsenal aspires to reclaim the championship for the first time since 2004, when Arsene Wenger’s squad completed an entire league season undefeated, earning the revered moniker of the “Invincibles.”
Though the current Arsenal team may not replicate that historic achievement, their tally of 27 wins and 89 goals has already established two new club records in the Premier League era.
Arteta underlined the significance of this feat, stating, “That’s not just progress, that’s history.” He acknowledged the daunting nature of such an accomplishment, particularly in today’s competitive league landscape.
The trip to Old Trafford was always anticipated as Arsenal’s sternest challenge in the run-in. Despite historical odds, with only one victory in their last 16 league encounters at United's home ground, Arsenal entered the match as favorites against a United side that had been thoroughly exposed by Crystal Palace, suffering a humiliating 4-0 defeat at Selhurst Park earlier in the week.
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