After another campaign that will end without silverware, Mikel Arteta will be thankful for small mercies. Sealing second place in the Premier League for a third successive season is not exactly the scenario that the Arsenal manager would have envisaged for his side’s last home match of the season when they kicked off against Wolves back in August. But at least Arteta had the satisfaction of getting one over Eddie Howe, at the fourth attempt.
Another blockbuster from Declan Rice left Newcastle needing to beat Everton at home next week to ensure they join Arsenal in the Champions League next season. After ending their long wait for silverware by winning the Carabao Cup, Howe will be desperate for Alexander Isak to recover from a groin problem that forced him to miss this game and to put the icing on their season. Other than a goalmouth scramble in stoppage time when tempers threatened to boil over, Arsenal were able to see out victory relatively comfortably despite losing William Saliba to injury at half-time.
