**Arsenal:** Raya; White, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly; Partey, Rice, Ødegaard; Saka, Trossard, Martinelli
**Substitutes**: Neto, Tierney, Zinchenko, Calafiori, Henry-Francis, Jorginho, Nwaneri, Havertz, Sterling
Arsenal have qualified for the Champions League, and have all but clinched second place after beating Newcastle 1-0. Declan Rice’s 55th minute goal was enough, as the Gunners finally beat a typically physical and annoying Newcastle.
Declan Rice returned to the side, with Mikel Merino out after suspension, and there was a return to the squad for Kai Havertz. Newcastle, meanwhile, were without Alexander Isak.
Newcastle nearly took the lead on 6 minutes. Raya’s poor clearance came to Tonali, who, with Arsenal deep, played into Wilson. Wilson laid the ball off to Bruno Guimarães, but Raya saved, and then he clawed the ball away from Gordon.
Newcastle then broke quickly. Livramento carried and played into Gordon, who had ran off Partey, and Gordon returned the ball to Livramento, whose shot was saved comfortably by Raya.
Trossard then went close. He beat Murphy on the edge of the penalty area, and got past Barnes before shooting, with his shot going just wide of Pope’s far post, via a deflection. Pope then had to save from the corner, as Partey met Saka’s corner.
Raya was called into action again. Barnes drove through the middle, and shot from the edge of the area. The shot deflected off Partey, and Raya, outstretched, tipped it around the post.
From the corner, Burn’s header was saved at point blank range by Raya, who then kicked away the rebound.
White, without an option, drove into the penalty box. His touch deserted him as he shaped to shoot, but he was also caught by Burn. Play, though, was allowed to continue.
Arsenal began to control play a little bit better, winning a succession of corners, though none came to fruition.
Newcastle, while still carrying a threat, were finding space a little harder to play through as Arsenal became safer in possession, and the first half petered to a close.
Arsenal made a change at half-time, with Calafiori replacing Saliba. Kiwior moved over to the right side of the centre back pairing.
White won a corner off of Burn, but Arsenal went short again and after Saka delayed playing the ball, had to go all the way back.
Lewis-Skelly, on 50 minutes, received Trossard’s pass with his back to goal. He turned, but Schar blocked his shot behind for a corner. After some pinball, Saka headed from deep back towards goal, and Pope was able to claim after a Newcastle block.
Declan Rice gave Arsenal the lead on 55 minutes. Arsenal’s pressure caused Gordon to cough up the ball. Saka reversed and played to Ødegaard, who played back to Rice on the edge of the ‘D’. Rice struck his shot first time and it arrowed into the far corner. [1-0](https://streamin.me/v/16h44ulj).
Rice’s clearance turned into a good long ball for Martinelli, who held the ball up for Ødegaard, who passed first time to Saka. Saka drove on, but then shot weakly at Pope.
Howe made a triple substitution on 64 minutes, with Miley, Krafth, and Osula replacing Murphy, Botman, and Wilson, as Newcastle reverted to a back 4. Krafth’s first involvement was hauling Martinelli down from Raya’s free kick, with Krafth booked.
Newcastle broke from the free kick, and Rice was slow to get out to Guimarães, who looked for Osula, but Kiwior got back to tackle.
Ødegaard combined with White, who drove inside and then shot just wide of the far post.
Livramento, getting down the side, won a corner from Kiwior, but Arsenal cleared the danger. Newcastle came again, though, and Guimarães combined with Miley, whoi laid the ball off for Barnes who shot well over.
On 76 minutes, Kai Havertz replaced Bukayo Saka. Newcastle also made a change, as Joe Willock replaced Barnes.
Tonali won a free kick after Havertz was late, but Schär’s free kick was straight into the wall.
Arteta was booked for kicking the ball back onto the pitch, meaning the boss will face a touchline ban for the final game of the season.
After Livramento played a dangerous ball across the box, Willock twisted and turned past White. From a narrow angle he shot well over goal.
On 88 minutes, Kieran Tierney, making his final Emirates Stadium appearance, replaced Leandro Trossard.
Calafiori’s header back to Raya was a little short, but the goalkeeper grabbed it just in front of an on-rushing Gordon.
Raya then grabbed Tonali’s free-kick and bowled the ball out for Martinelli. Lacking support, Martinelli took Livramento on, but had to settle for a corner, as the match entered 5 minutes of additional time. Rice’s corner flashed across goal, but Newcastle cleared.
In the 93rd minute, Jorginho, also making his final appearance at the Emirates, replaced Ødegaard.
Raya was booked for time wasting and then Havertz was booked after his elbow caught Schär.
Raya couldn’t claim a Newcastle cross, but Arsenal were able to clear. Havertz’s pass to Martinelli on the break took him wide. Newcastle came again, the game went into the 97th minute, and Willock won a corner. Raya was able to claim, and then Dan Burn chucked Havertz to the ground. The referee, with loads of players surrounding him, brandished a yellow card to Dan Burn and then finally blew for time.