Arsenal's second wind blows Newcastle off course
Premier League: Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle United
NOBODY BEATS Arsenal four times in one season. Mikel Arteta has broken many club records in his five years as Arsenal manager and has avoided adding the unwanted statistic of losing to the same side in four matches in one term.
A second-half Declan Rice goal secured the victory that both confirmed Arsenal's return to Champions League football next season and all but mathematically guarantees a third successive runners-up finish in the Premier League table.
It was the great late American tennis player Vitas Gerulaitis who explained how he managed to end a career-long run of 16 consecutive defeats by compatriot Jimmy Connors by saying 'nobody beats Vita Gerulaitis 17 times in a row.' And Arteta showed what he had learned from the punishing three defeats by the Geordies this season – including the two-legged League Cup semi-final - to score this morale-boosting victory that ensures another trophyless season ends on a high.
His voice cracking with emotion afterwards, the proud Spanish coach said: 'The season is not over but we got what we wanted today. We had a clear dream. We wanted to deliver a big trophy this season. That was the aim and we will be back stronger next season.
'Most teams would have collapsed had they had to cope with the issues we had this season in terms of injuries and other problems. We did not and we never will.
'We clearly are very disappointed because we wanted to be here with the Premier League or the Champions League. Our dream needs to not get blurry. What we have done to sustain the level this season with everything that has happened is incredible.
"Because of the culture and the standards we set, we have to think for the best. If you raise the expectations, then you have to analyse what you have. We have been there [second] for three seasons."
Arteta was not only boosted by the majority of the 60,000 here chanting his name during and after the game, but also by the programme notes of co-chair Josh Kroenke pledging summer transfer funds to get the club to the promised land of major silverware.
Arteta added: 'The support has always been there and our summer plans are done. The timing of them can be dictated by many things but we know what we want to do. I cannot promise trophies next season but I do know we will do everything to give our supporters what they want. I feel they are behind me and what the club is doing now but I know they want more too.'
One of Arteta's summer targets will be Newcastle striker Alexander Isak who missed the game with the recurrence of a groin injury. Pressed on whether his star player would start next season in the club's back and white strip, manager Eddie Howe admitted: 'I want my best players to stay and I want to add to them for next season but I can not and never will make any guarantees.'
Howe's immediate concern is his super Swede's fitness going into their final match of the season at home to Everton this Sunday. He added: 'We will await the results of his scan. We're still in a strong position and it's still in our hands."
Rice fired Arsenal in front on 55 minutes. Anthony Gordon conceded possession with a sloppy pass, Bukayo Saka pounced to feed Martin Odegaard, who rolled a pass to the edge of the area where Rice curled in what is rapidly becoming a trademark, unstoppable curling right-foot strike. Bend it like Declan!
Rice commented: 'After coming so close in the league last year, we were poor this year by our standards. To go out of every cup competition - with the players and the manager we've got - we need to be competing for titles and trophies, we can't take anything for granted. We're probably going to lose a few players so we need to sign more players. We'll strengthen over the summer. We're going to come back more hungry and stronger wanting to win something for this club."
The Arsenal supporters raised the sound levels further when their leading scorer – the nine-goal German Kai Havertz came on for the first time since undergoing hamstring surgery at the start of February. There were also sentimental appearances from the bench at the end for departing duo Kieran Tierney and Jorginho.
Arteta concluded: 'Kai has come back quicker than expected and that is to his credit and the medical staff who have also worked so hard.
'It was emotional in the dressing room afterwards. Not everyone will be back next season. I know what it is like as I have been there. We know how to look after our players.'
ARSENAL: Raya 6, White 6, Saliba 6 (Calafiori 46), Kiwior 6, Lewis-Skelly 6, Partey 6, Rice 8, Odegaard 6 (Jorginho 90), Saka 7, (Havertz 76), Martinelli 7, Trossard 6 (Tierney 88).
Subs: Neto, Zinchenko, Henry-Francis, Nwaneri, Sterling,
NEWCASTLE UNITED: Pope 8, Schar 6, Burn 7, Botman 6 (Krafth 64), Murphy 5 (Miley 63), Tonali 7, Guimaraes 6, Livramento 6, Barnes 6 (Willock 76), Wilson 5 (Osula 64), Gordon 5.
Subs: Dubravka, Lascelles, Longstaff, Neave, Ruddy
Ref: S Hooper 6
Att: 60,160
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