An “emotional” Declan Rice said Arsenal never stopped believing they could win the Premier League, with the club on the brink of a first title in 22 years.
The Gunners are just one game away from glory after Kai Havertz’s first-half header secured a 1-0 victory against Burnley at the Emirates Stadium.
And Arsenal will be crowned champions on Tuesday night – and avoid the anxiety of a final-day shoot-out – if Bournemouth stop Manchester City from winning at the Vitality Stadium.
Arsenal looked to have blown their bid to claim a first championship since Arsene Wenger’s “Invincibles” triumphed in 2004 after they lost to rivals Manchester City on April 19.
Sitting on the Etihad Stadium pitch, Rice told his team-mates “it’s not done” and the Gunners, runners-up for the past three seasons, bounced back by winning their next four without conceding.
“Look, it is in our hands,” said Rice, whose side face Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Sunday.
“We have turned it around. We have won every game since we last lost and that is all we tried to do, to keep winning and to stay positive.
“We knew on the inside that we had the belief and we could still win it. We haven’t won it yet, there is still one to go. And Sunday is going to be proper.
“But it’s emotional because where this club has come from over the last 10 years – the ups and downs. I wasn’t here before, but I knew about it, I heard about it and to be a part of what is going on now is so special.
“This club deserves really good things and we have worked really hard towards that, so let’s keep pushing.”
Arsenal’s foundation for success has been built on a water-tight defence. Their clean sheet against Burnley was the club’s 19th of the season, with goalkeeper David Raya taking the Golden Glove award for the third consecutive campaign.
Rice continued: “I don’t know where this club would be without the back four and the goalkeeper.
“It is stuff I have never seen before. The way they commit to training every day, the way they are available every week and what they give to fight for this club is extraordinary.
“They deserve everything, on top of what they have done for the last few seasons, for the work they are putting in for all of us.”