Arsenal booked their place in the Champions League as Declan Rice’s thunderbolt sealed a 1-0 win against top five rivals Newcastle on Sunday.
The decisive goal came midway through the second half at the Emirates Stadium, when Rice fired a powerful shot from outside the area, beating Newcastle’s goalkeeper Nick Pope. This win ensures Arsenal’s participation in Europe’s top club competition next season.
After struggling with a five-game winless streak, Arsenal finally regained their winning form, easing the pressure ahead of the final match of the Premier League season.
With this result, Arsenal no longer face worries about securing a top-five finish, comfortably holding second place in the league.
Currently sitting second, Arsenal is expected to finish as runners-up for the third season in a row. Although they couldn’t match champions Liverpool’s pace, the Gunners remain among the strongest teams in England and Europe.
Despite their recent Champions League semi-final loss to Paris Saint-Germain and now five years without a major trophy, Arsenal continue to look like the main challengers to Liverpool’s dominance.
Newcastle, who sit third, remain just ahead of Chelsea and Aston Villa on goal difference. However, Manchester City, placed sixth, can overtake Newcastle if they win their postponed match against Bournemouth on Tuesday. Nottingham Forest, in seventh, are close behind Newcastle by just one point, making the fight for Champions League spots highly competitive.
Newcastle had the upper hand earlier in the season with three wins against Arsenal, but they were missing their key striker Alexander Isak due to injury in this crucial game. His absence was felt as Newcastle struggled to score.
Newcastle created some good chances, with Bruno Guimaraes and Tino Livramento forcing saves from Arsenal’s David Raya. Raya was busy throughout the match, also stopping shots from Harvey Barnes, Dan Burn, and Sven Botman. Arsenal’s defense held firm despite Newcastle’s pressure.
Arsenal’s manager Mikel Arteta made a half-time substitution, replacing injured defender William Saliba with Riccardo Calafiori. The team looked sluggish early on but grew stronger after the break. The goal came when Martin Odegaard set up Rice, who struck cleanly to give Arsenal the lead.
After the goal, Arsenal controlled much of the game. Bukayo Saka nearly doubled the lead but was denied by Pope. Arsenal’s Ben White also came close with a long-range effort. Newcastle grew frustrated, with substitute Emil Krafth receiving a yellow card shortly after coming on.
In the final minutes, Arsenal introduced Kai Havertz for his first appearance since February. There was some tension on the pitch, with a clash between Havertz and Dan Burn. Newcastle’s Joe Willock had a late chance but shot just over the bar.
Arsenal held on tightly to their narrow lead to secure a vital victory that guarantees their Champions League football next season, ending any doubts and giving their fans a much-needed boost.
