Monday’s briefing: Arsenal seal Champions League spot as Chelsea complete treble

Arsenal are all but certain to finish as Premier League runners-up after securing Champions League football for another season.

Newcastle, Chelsea, Aston Villa, Manchester City and Nottingham Forest face a final-day battle for the three remaining places with just one point separating them.

For Chelsea’s Women, however, the quest for honours yielded a third trophy of the campaign on Sunday.

Mikel Arteta is ready to give his life to deliver a trophy for Arsenal after apologising to the club’s fans for ending the season empty-handed.

Speaking after Declan Rice’s goal had clinched a 1-0 win over Newcastle which booked their Champions League place, the Spaniard reflected on a season during which his side failed to mount a serious challenge to champions Liverpool and went out of both Europe and Carabao Cup at the semi-final stage.

Arteta, who had earlier issued his apology while addressing supporters, said: “I know what we have been through for the past nine and a half months and the history of this Premier League, and there are teams who have not been in even 70 per cent of the situation that we have been in, and they have completely collapsed and we have not. And I really value that.

“What I can promise is that I will do my very best (to win a trophy) and I will give my life, and get every drop of everybody here to squeeze it and get the best (out of them).”

Newcastle remain in third place heading into the final day of the campaign, but they are separated from Nottingham Forest in seventh by just a single point.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s men are level on 65 points with Manchester City, who have a game in hand, and firmly in the race for a Champions League spot ahead of their crucial showdown with Chelsea after a 2-1 win at West