Newcastle vs Arsenal LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction tonight

It may have only taken a disastrous four days to undo much of a season’s good work. Arsenal could have sealed a place in next year’s Champions League on Thursday. Two games, two defeats and a six-point swing to Tottenham later and the Europa League beckons instead. Their longest journey this campaign proved among the depressing, a deserved defeat to Newcastle leaving Arsenal reliant on a hapless Norwich team for a favour on Sunday if they are to stand any chance of leapfrogging their neighbours.

Their exile from the European elite seems set to extend into a sixth season. They have grasped fifth place from the jaws of fourth. Instead of a breakthrough campaign, it looks like being a qualified success that, right now, can feel like a failure.

An opportunity has been squandered amid five losses in nine games, the concession of five goals in two matches and two dreadful displays. A self-destructive streak was symbolised by a scorer in their latest setback. Arsenal can beat Arsenal and, much as Newcastle merited victory and the outstanding Bruno Guimaraes warranted his clinching strike, the final touch for their opener came from a visiting player. Ben White was luckless, but too often Arsenal have been architects of their own downfall. They now sit two points behind Spurs, with added reasons to rue Thursday’s North London derby.

Arsenal’s hopes of qualifying for the Champions League suffered a perhaps fatal blow as Newcastle United took a deserved 2-0 home win.

Defeat leaves Mikel Arteta’s side two points behind rivals Tottenham, who possess a vastly superior goal difference and need only a draw against Norwich on the final day to be sure of a top four finish.

The visitors produced a flat performance at St James’s Park, hustled by Newcastle’s high press and battling to contain a direct, dynamic forward line

Though Arsenal, very much on the back foot, managed to escape the first half without conceding, Ben White turned a Joelinton cross into his own net soon after the interval, and Bruno Guimares slammed home a second late on to put the result beyond doubt.

Here are five things we learned from Newcastle’s win:

Since the turn of the year, only Liverpool (25) have won more points at home in the Premier League than Newcastle United (22).

Bruno Guimaraes added Newcastle’s second goal to effectively seal the points and despite a slight resurgence from Arsenal, Newcastle were defensively sound enough to hold on to the clean sheet.

Ben White’s unfortunate own goal sent Newcastle in front in the second half and the Gunners couldn’t respond. They just weren’t at the races tonight and the risk that Mikel Arteta took in playing White and Gabriel didn’t pay off.

90+6 mins: Newcastle cruised to victory and Aaron Ramsdale made two or three blinding saves. His latest one coming right at the end of the game to keep out Ryan Fraser’s side-footed effort.

The Magpies earned themselves a deserved three points. Their final home game of the season ends with a win at home and they are on the verge of finishing in the top half of the table.

Arsenal’s top four hopes are left hanging by a thread. They need Norwich to defeat Tottenham on Sunday whilst beating Everton themselves. It’s not over yet but the Champions League looks a long way away from the Gunners right now.

90+3 mins: Arsenal are in still pushing. They’re passing the ball around the edge of the 18-yard box, throwing men up the pitch and trying to find an opening. Cedric Soares receives the ball but his pass into the penalty area is woeful and heads straight out of play.

Callum Wilson isn’t going to get his goal tonight. His performance warrants one but Eddie Howe brings on Dwight Gayle for the closing few minutes. Wilson leaves the pitch to a loud round of applause from the home supporters.

90 mins: There is hope for Arsenal. Six minutes of added time to play, can they score and pile on the pressure. They win a corner and knock it short. When the cross does come in it’s easily cleared by Newcastle.

88 mins: This is a bad beat for Arsenal. Tottenham’s goal difference is 15 better than the Gunners meaning that they just need to avoid losing to Norwich on the last day of the season to secure fourth place.