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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Oli Gent

Mikel Arteta reveals if he will watch Man City vs Bournemouth in key clash for Arsenal title hopes

Mikel Arteta revealed his plans for watching Manchester City's clash with Bournemouth, a match that could confirm Arsenal as Premier League champions.

Kai Havertz's header was enough to earn the Gunners a 1-0 win over Burnley on Monday night and move them five points clear at the top of the table.

City's game in hand is away at Bournemouth 24 hours later and they must win to take the title race to the final day of the season.

Any dropped points from City would seal the title for Arsenal, their first for 22 years.

"I don't know how long I'm going to watch it," Arteta said.

"I will be there in front of the TV. But I don't know how much I'm going to be able to watch, I think that's the reality."

Title delight: Mikel Arteta (Getty)

Asked if he would gather with his staff and players to watch together, Arteta said: "I haven't planned to do that.

"I'm planning to watch it with my family and again I don't know for how long."

Bournemouth have not lost a match since January and have big ambitions of their own.

Victory over City would move the Cherries to within a point of Liverpool in fifth as they chase Champions League football.

It will also be the final home match in charge for Andoni Iraola, who will leave Bournemouth at the end of the season.

Arteta and Iraola are childhood friends and the Arsenal manager confirmed he would be a Bournemouth fan for the night.

Close mates: Andoni Iraola and Mikel Arteta (Getty)

He laughed: "The biggest ever.

"Of Andoni and all the players and all the people that are supporters of Bournemouth. I think we all are because we know what that means if tomorrow they get a result.

On the prospect of sending a pre-match message to Iraola, Arteta added: "I don't think it's needed.

"What he's done in that football club, the transformation, and what they are playing for, I don't think they need anything else.

"When you look at how Burnley played today, the spirit that they showed, how difficult they made it - imagine tomorrow."

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