Arsenal have secured UEFA Champions League football for next season after defeating Newcastle United in their final home game of the season.
Premier League
Result: Arsenal 2-0 Newcastle United
Date: 18 May 2025
Venue: Emirates Stadium
Gunners coach Mikel Arteta made just one change from the draw with Liverpool, as Declan Rice returned to replace the suspended Mikel Merino, who was sent off at Anfield last weekend.
The two sides made a lively start to the encounter but it was the Magpies who created the chances early on, as Harvey Barnes and Dan Burn forced Gunners goalkeeper David Raya into a couple big saves.
Arsenal, meanwhile, were finding it tough to carve out any clear-cut chances at goal, with the likes of Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli kept quiet for most of the first half.
That was the trend for the remainder of the first half, as Arteta's charges could only threaten from set-pieces and efforts from distance, none of which troubled Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope.
However, the home side broke the deadlock ten minutes into the second half as Odegaard turned provider to pick out Rice, who sent a fine first-time finish into the far corner from the edge of the box.
Magpies coach Eddie Howe responded with a double change soon after as Jacob Murphy and Sven Botman made way for Lewis Miley and William Osula as they went in search of the equaliser in the final 25 minutes.
The visitors threw bodies forward in search of the equaliser in the closing stages, but the Gunners remained resolute to claim maximum points.
For the third season in a row, Arteta's will finish in second place and qualify for the Champions League.
