Arsenal vs Newcastle LIVE: Premier League reaction as Gunners secure Champions League football with win
Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle: Declan Rice’s sweeping effort secures a well-earned win for the Gunners
A Declan Rice stunner ensured Arsenal beat Newcastle United 1-0 on Sunday afternoon to secure a place in next season’s Champions League.
The first half at the Emirates saw the visiting side dominate proceedings, with Bruno Guimaraes and Harvey Barnes going close as David Raya was forced into several good saves.
But the Gunners came out for the second half rejuvenated and soon took control of the game, with a period of pressure telling as Declan Rice swept in a brilliant finish from range to give his side the lead.
Both sides threatened at various points from then but it was Arsenal who had the better chances, with Newcastle rarely creating anything clear-cut.
And it was the Gunners who were able to see out the result, guaranteeing themselves a return to Champions League football and all but securing third consecutive second-place finish in the Premier League.
Follow all the reaction from the Emirates below:
Arsenal 0-0 Newcastle
18 mins
SAVE! And again!
From the corner, the ball in is headed towards goal by Burn, but Raya gets down and reacts well to palm it away before saving the rebound with his foot.
Arsenal 0-0 Newcastle
17 mins
SAVE! This is brilliant from Raya.
Newcastle counter and the space opens up ahead of Barnes. He hits a shot from just outside the box but it takes a nasty deflection and is nestling in the far corner, before Raya throws himself to the opposite side and claws it away.
Arsenal 0-0 Newcastle
16 mins
Eddie Howe has tended to have Mikel Arteta's number in the last couple of years.
Howe surprised his Arsenal counterpart at St James' Park in the Carabao Cup semi-final by putting Fabian Schar on Declan Rice. There hasn't been a repeat of that man-marking tactic, but Newcastle have made the better start.
David Raya has made a couple of smart stops, even if one was required because he passed the ball to Sandro Tonali.
Arsenal 0-0 Newcastle
14 mins
Good work from Trossard and he evades the challenge from Murphy before cutting inside and seeing his effort deflected behind.
From the corner, Partey glances it goalwards at the near post but there’s a great save from Pope, who spread his arms well.
Arsenal 0-0 Newcastle
12 mins
Newcastle are happy to sit deep at the moment and counter, and it almost pays off brilliantly as Livramento exchanges passes with the overlapping Gordon before firing a shot too close to Raya.
Moments later, Arsenal give it away cheaply but recover to intercept the through ball from Guimaraes.
Arsenal 0-0 Newcastle
9 mins
Plenty of good possession for the hosts so far but nothing clear-cut in terms of chances as Murphy shepherds a long ball out of play.
Arsenal 0-0 Newcastle
6 mins
CLOSE! The best chance of the match so far and it’s the first for the visitors.
Raya makes the initial mistake and Tonali pounces, slipping the ball into Wilson, who lays it off to Guimaraes. The Brazilian forces a good save from Raya, before the ‘keeper also palms away his second effort.
Arsenal 0-0 Newcastle
4 mins
The first bit of pressure from Arsenal sees a great turn from Odegaard before shouts for a penalty as Burn slides in on White, but it was a clean challenge.
Arsenal 0-0 Newcastle
2 mins
A couple of sloppy exchanges of possession from both sides so far early on.
Neither team wants to take initiative at the moment.
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