In-form Newcastle visit faltering Arsenal as Champions League race hots up

Six Premier League teams separated by six points are battling it out for the four remaining Champions League spots with two rounds of matches left and no team can rest easy, although they have all secured European football for next season.

Champions Liverpool are on a victory lap with nothing left to play for while the bottom three have all been relegated, leaving just the race for Europe's premier club competition to be wrapped up as a gruelling season draws to a close.

Arsenal, long seen as title contenders before their challenge faded away amid a Champions League run, are no longer assured of second place but Mikel Arteta's side still control their destiny ahead of Newcastle United's visit on Sunday.

Newcastle are up to third and sit two points behind Arsenal, with Eddie Howe's side tantalisingly close to finishing second in the Premier League for the first time in 28 years.

The North-East side have shown a hunger to return to the Champions League, evidenced by their recent run of seven wins in nine games to move up from sixth place.

Only Liverpool have taken more points in the last 20 games while Newcastle also ended a 70-year wait for a domestic trophy when they won the League Cup.

"We're on the road to what we want to do this season, but there's still a lot of work to do and two tough fixtures to play," Howe said.

"The size of the prize is huge, the players are aware of that. There was a worry when we won the trophy (League Cup) that there would be a negative consequence of that, but I think it actually gave us confidence."

TOO MANY DRAWS

Arteta, meanwhile, has seen his Arsenal team share the spoils in 14 draws this season, while injuries and the suspension of Mikel Merino will force him to rejig a side who have won only