DE Sports Desk :
Arsenal ended their winless run against Newcastle United this season with a hard-fought 1-0 victory at the Emirates, thanks to a second-half strike from Declan Rice.
The result all but guarantees the Gunners a second-place Premier League finish and a spot in next season’s UEFA Champions League.
Newcastle had dominated early proceedings and threatened to extend their recent supremacy over Arsenal, who had lost three times to the Magpies this season in various competitions.
But Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya stood firm in the first half, pulling off crucial saves to deny Bruno Guimaraes, Tino Livramento, Harvey Barnes, and Dan Burn.
Despite a sluggish first-half performance, Arsenal responded after the break.
In the 55th minute, Martin Odegaard slipped a pass to Rice, who curled a precise strike from outside the box beyond Nick Pope — finally breaching the Newcastle defence with their 52nd attempt across four matches this season.
“We had a few objectives today: to secure the Champions League spot, finish second, and give our fans a strong farewell at home. We did that,” said Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, addressing supporters post-match.
The win lifted Arsenal to 71 points from 37 matches, ensuring a top-two finish as only Manchester City — currently sixth with two games in hand — can mathematically catch them.
For Newcastle, the loss keeps them third on 66 points.
With just one point separating them from seventh-placed Nottingham Forest, their Champions League qualification hopes hinge on the final day clash against Everton.
“It’s going to the wire,” Newcastle boss Eddie Howe admitted. “We need one last big effort.”
Fizzled Finish to Arsenal’s Promising Season
Arsenal’s season once looked set for silverware, but a League Cup semi-final exit to Newcastle, a failed title challenge, and a Champions League semi-final defeat to PSG left fans with disappointment.
Sunday’s win, however, eased tensions at the Emirates, especially after a run of just one win in six league games.
Newcastle, missing key striker Alexander Isak due to injury, started strongly.
Arsenal’s defence wobbled early on, and Raya’s heroics kept them in the game.
The keeper’s best save came from a powerful header by Burn, which he acrobatically palmed away.
Arsenal’s attack found rhythm in the second half, with Rice’s finish providing the breakthrough.
Former Gunner Joe Willock had a late chance to equalise for Newcastle but blazed his shot over.
With just one game left — an away fixture against relegated Southampton — Arsenal are set to wrap up a third straight second-place finish in the league.