Declan Rice’s thunderbolt earned Arsenal their place in the Champions League on Sunday against top-five rivals Newcastle.
Arsenal will compete in the elite club competition in Europe next season thanks to Rice’s superb second-half strike at the Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners’ focus on the top five positions no longer poses a threat to their final weekend of the season after Mikel Arteta’s side ended a five-game winless streak.
After failing to keep up with champions Liverpool, second-placed Arsenal are likely to finish third in a row as Premier League runners-up.
The north Londoners have now gone five years without a trophy after falling short of Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League semi-finals.
Arsenal still look the most likely contenders to take the title from Liverpool next season despite another frustrating season.
On goal difference, third-placed Newcastle is ahead of Chelsea and Aston Villa, who are both in fourth place.
If they can win their game at home to Bournemouth on Tuesday, Manchester City, would go above Eddie Howe’s team.
In a remarkably close race to the Champions League, Nottingham Forest are only one point clear of League Cup winners Newcastle, who are currently seventh.
To clinch qualification, Newcastle will need to defeat Everton on May 25 in their final game of the season at St James’ Park.
Even though the Magpies had defeated Arsenal three times this season, leading scorer Alexander Isak’s absence was costly because he was not injured.
After the Arsenal keeper’s error-firing pass to Sandro Tonali had sparked the Newcastle attack, Bruno Guimaraes’ close-range strike was parried by David Raya.
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Rice Rocket
After Anthony Gordon’s backheel opened up the Arsenal defense, Raya was called back to action to save Tino Livramento’s drive.
A shot that Leandro Trossard deflected just wide into the Newcastle area descended.
Thomas Partey’s header was impulsively tip over by Nick Pope from the corner that came out.
Harvey Barnes’ low drive from the edge of the area was being pushed away by Raya at full stretch.
The overworked Arsenal keeper saved another excellent save to stop Sven Botman’s follow-up from Dan Burn before using his foot to stop the shot with his foot.
After another poor move failed late in the first half, Arteta threw his arms up in disbelief and threw his arms in disbelief.
In a blow to the Gunners’ injured squad, Riccardo Calafiori took the place of French defender William Saliba at half-time.
In the 55th minute, Arsenal finally let go of their complacency and took the lead.
The midfielder lashed a superb first-time finish past Pope from the edge of the area as Martin Odegaard worked space for a pass to Rice.
Rice scored nine goals overall this season before Saka’s shot was blocked by Pope, who almost immediately had one.
Ben White’s stinging 20-yard strike that whistled just wide was the result of an appropriation of Rice’s style.
Emil Krafth was booked for a needless foul just 33 seconds after being substituted for the team, which was mounting Newcastle’s frustration.
Saka’s final 15 minutes of playing time with a hamstring injury saw him make his first appearance since February. Kai Havertz replaced him.
Havertz and Burn immediately exchanged blows and threw the ball at the German.
As Arsenal fought back in a tense climax, Joe Willock blasted just over Newcastle.
Source: Channels TV
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