Kai Havertz headed an 86th-minute winner to take his side top of the Premier League with a 2-1 home victory over Brentford on Saturday.
Arsenal have 64 points after 28 games, although either Liverpool or Manchester City can claim first place with a win in Sunday’s clash at Anfield.
Second-placed Liverpool have 63 points, while City are third on 62.
Arsenal recorded an eighth league victory in a row and a Havertz goal made up for goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale’s mistake.
Declan Rice’s glancing header from a Ben White cross gave Arsenal the lead after 19 minutes before Yoane Wissa leveled just before halftime.
“These points were so important for us and you could see that in the second half,” said Havertz. “We didn’t play our best in the first half but it’s even better to win it this way.
Manchester United claimed a win against Everton to boost their top four survival chances.
Erik ten Hag’s team remain sixth but with 47 points they crept closer to fourth-placed Aston Villa, who are on 55 with a game in hand at home to Tottenham Hotspur in fifth on Sunday.
“It was important. We had one bad result against Fulham in this calendar year,” Ten Hag said. “We had to put this right and keep the pressure on the teams above us.
“There are many games to play. Now we are back. We will keep pressure on them and see what happens.”
