It was Newcastle who should have been ahead at half-time with only a string of Raya saves keeping the scores level
Declan Rice’s second-half strike fired Arsenal to a 1-0 win against Newcastle at the Emirates and a place in next season’s Champions League.
Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya kept his side in the match with a string of fine saves prior to the interval before Rice delivered from range with 55 minutes gone.
Arsenal’s victory moves them five points clear of third-placed Newcastle with just one match remaining.
Newcastle’s Champions League fate remains in their hands, but they will start the final day level on points with Chelsea and Aston Villa, albeit with a superior goal difference.
Manchester City will bump Newcastle, who host Everton at St James’ Park in their concluding game, down to fourth if they beat Bournemouth on Tuesday.
Arsenal knew a defeat here – against a team that had already beaten them times this season – would leave them requiring a result in their final game at Southampton to ensure a top-five finish.
Arsenal were handed a major boost prior to kick-off when Alexander Isak, linked with a summer move to north London, was absent from the visitors’ team sheet with a groin problem.
Yet, it was Newcastle who should have been ahead at half-time with only a string of Raya saves keeping the scores level.
It was Raya’s sloppy pass after just six minutes which presented the first chance of the game. Sandro Tonali picked up the Arsenal goalkeeper’s wayward ball before he found Callum Wilson who did well to present Bruno Guimaraes with a shot. However, Raya atoned for his initial error when he got down low to block Guimaraes’ strike and then scooped the ball away.
Raya was back in action just five minutes later when he saved well from Tino Livramento following the full-back’s neat one-two with Anthony Gordon.
At the other end, Nick Pope produced a fine save to deny Thomas Partey’s header from Bukayo Saka’s corner. But it was soon Raya taking centre stage again – this time diverting Harvey Barnes’ deflected shot wide after the Newcastle midfielder was allowed to run unchallenged from the halfway line to the edge of the Arsenal box.
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