Arsenal falter again in Champions League race after loss to Newcastle

Arsenal's Champions League hopes suffered a major blow as Newcastle powered their way to a deserved win at a raucous St James' Park.

Bruno Guimaraes condemned the Gunners to a costly defeat with an 85th-minute strike after Ben White's own goal had put the Magpies ahead in front of a crowd of 52,274.

As a result, Arsenal will go into Sunday's final round of fixtures two points behind fourth-placed Tottenham and with their fate out of their own hands. Spurs will secure Champions League qualification by winning at relegated Norwich; the Gunners are at home to Everton.

Victory was no more than Eddie Howe's side deserved as they bounced back from successive defeats to Liverpool and Manchester City to take their tally to 46 points, the most they have collected since returning to the Premier League in 2017.

The visitors were first to threaten when Granit Xhaka raced upfield before feeding Eddie Nketiah, who cut inside from the left, but saw his right-foot shot blocked at source.

Callum Wilson's pace and the bite provided by Guimaraes and Joelinton in the middle of the field were making life difficult for Arsenal, and White, back in the side after a hamstring injury, had to block a cross from Sean Longstaff and Joelinton's shot within seconds as the home side pushed for the opening goal.

However, Newcastle defender Dan Burn had to be in the right place at the right time to repel Bukayo Saka's 21st-minute strike after he had exchanged passes with Martin Odegaard, and the England international saw keeper Martin Dubravka field a second effort with Arsenal turning the tide.

The respite proved purely temporary as the Magpies pinned the visitors back inside their own half once again with Allan Saint-Maximin terrorising Takehiro Tomiyasu,