Declan Rice of Arsenal celebrates after the teams 1-0 victory in the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Newcastle United FC at Emirates Stadium on May 18, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)Declan Rice of Arsenal celebrates after the teams 1-0 victory in the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Newcastle United FC at Emirates Stadium on May 18, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Declan Rice of Arsenal celebrates after the teams 1-0 victory in the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Newcastle United FC at Emirates Stadium on May 18, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Declan Rice’s only goal of the game clinched a 1-0 win for Arsenal over Newcastle United.
Eddie Howe’s side had beaten the Gunners in their three previous meetings this campaign, winning 1-0 at St James’ Park in the Premier League in November before winning both Carabao Cup semi-final legs 2-0 earlier this year.
However, that run came to an end on Sunday, with Declan Rice’s 55th-minute strike earning a 1-0 victory. The result guaranteed second place for Arsenal while Newcastle head into next weekend’s final day clash against Everton requiring a win to secure Champions League qualification.
Mikel Arteta’s bitter dressing room message
Speaking after the game, Rice revealed Arteta used his side’s recent losses to Newcastle as a motivation technique.
The England midfielder told Sky Sports "We've been poor by our standards the last few weeks in the Premier League. We obviously went so hard in the Champions League [and] our form dropped in the Premier League.
"That happens sometimes, but Newcastle are such an in-form side and we've lost three games to them this year. And the manager's message before the game was clear - take it personal - and I think we did today.
"I think first half was a bit of a slow start, but we grew into the game and in the end we showed that grit. And three points at home on the last [home game] was a nice day to top it off."
Eddie Howe gives his thoughts on Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle United
Newcastle started well in North London and were left wondering how they weren’t in front at half-time after goalkeeper David Raya denied the likes of Bruno Guimaraes, Tino Livramento, Harvey Barnes and Dan Burn.
Typically, the Magpies were punished for their missed chances 10 minutes into the second-half when Rice smashed the ball past Nick Pope from 20 yards
Howe said: “Very pleased with the performance bar the last action, we created chances but our general play was strong. We were competitive, good with the ball. Really pleased with majority of first half but we became a bit too passive in second half. We discovered that quickly after and they scored so that's frustrating.
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"When you're away you have moments where you lose control, the crowd get into the game and whatever solidity you had can go. We've been good at riding that storm recently, it felt like we were going to do that again and it took a special finish from Declan Rice to break us down. It was the feeling of pressure rather than them creating chances and if we could've withstood that we would've gone on to do something. But we didn't.
"It was one of our strongest away performances but you have to score and we didn't. Only got ourselves to blame for that and some good saves from their keeper. Individual players played well and we take that into next week.
"You want it to be in your own hands. We back ourselves at home and under pressure but there will be all the build-up to the game which will be big, we have to detach ourselves from that. The performance today was strong and we have to take that confidence into next week."
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