Laurent Koscielny gave Arsenal victory over Newcastle United and booked their place in next season’s Champions League.
The Gunners just had to win at St James’ Park to ensure their spot in the top four and made no mistake on Tyneside.
The home side began the game on the front foot and almost made it 1-0 in the seventh minute when Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa found Papiss Cisse with a fine low cross, but the striker could only blaze his resulting shot over the bar.
Arsenal were then rocked by a major injury blow in the 27th minute when Mikel Arteta limped off the pitch and was replaced by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
And the Magpies again went close in the 40th minute when Hatem Ben Arfa jinked his way through the Gunners’ defence before lashing an effort just over the bar.
Laurent Koscielny then made Ben Arfa pay for his miss in the 52nd minute, as he acrobatically volleyed home Lukas Podolski’s flick-on to put the Gunners in pole position to qualify for the Champions League.
Ben Arfa continued to pepper the Arsenal goal with shots, and he again went close in the 71st minute with a long-range effort that swerved just wide of Steve Harper’s post.
And the home side appealed for a penalty in the 86th minute when Mathieu Debuchy appeared to be bundled over in the box, though referee Howard Webb waved play on.
Theo Walcott then looked certain to seal Champions League qualification for the Gunners in the 90th minute, after finding himself one-on-one with Harper, but could only flick his effort against the post.
Meanwhile, Tottenham went into their home clash with Sunderland knowing they needed an almighty favour from Newcastle, but they didn’t get it as a 1-0 win at White Hart Lane was rendered insignificant.
Andre Villas-Boas’ side, for the second season running, suffer the agony of narrowly missing out on Champions League football, despite Gareth Bale’s late wonder strike.
Follow The Eagle Online Channel on WhatsApp
