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The Gunners' poor form had allowed third-placed Newcastle to reel them in ahead of this encounter at Emirates Stadium, but Declan Rice's sublime second-half goal moved Mikel Arteta's men five points clear of their opponent and six ahead of Manchester City in sixth.

That strike was only enough for Arsenal to claim victory after a sequence of superb early David Raya saves had kept the game goalless amid a bright Newcastle start.

However, the visitor, without Alexander Isak due to injury, could not respond to Rice's 55th-minute drive despite a period of late pressure.

Joe Willock passed up perhaps its best chance, while the final stages were played out inside the Arsenal box, where an ailing home side managed to hold firm.

Newcastle's strong goal difference should ensure victory at home to Everton on the final day will still secure a top-five finish, while the pressure is now off Arsenal ahead of a trip to already-relegated Southampton.