Arsenal seal Champions League spot with win over Newcastle | OneFootball

Arsenal have locked in their place in next season’s Champions League, thanks to a thunderous goal from Declan Rice that sealed a 1-0 win over Newcastle at the Emirates.

The first half wasn’t much to shout about for the Gunners - they looked a bit all over the place, both at the back and going forward.

The Magpies had the better chances, but David Raya kept Arsenal in it with some top-class saves to deny Bruno Guimarães, Harvey Barnes, Dan Burn and Sven Botman.

The hosts offered very little from set pieces, and Newcastle looked fairly comfortable going into the break.

But things changed after the break. Mikel Arteta's side came out with a lot more energy, and Rice broke the deadlock in style on 55 minutes, smashing one in from 22 yards that gave Nick Pope no chance.

Newcastle, without Alexander Isak through injury, tried to pile on some pressure late on but couldn’t find a way through.

The Magpies’ strong goal difference means a win against Everton next weekend should still be enough to secure a top-five finish.

As for Arsenal, they’ve done the job and can head into their final match away at already-relegated Southampton with a bit less weight on their shoulders.

The Gunners are now on 71 points, with only sixth-placed Man City - who still have two games to play - able to catch them.

Eddie Howe's side stay third on 66 points, but with just one point separating third and seventh, the scrap for the remaining Champions League spots is going right to the wire.