Arsenal secured their place in next season’s UEFA Champions League after their hard-fought 1-0 win over Newcastle United on the penultimate Premier League weekend, Afrosport reports.
The Gunners came into the game just two points clear of third-placed Magpies and also Aston Villa and Chelsea in fourth and fifth respectively, following their respective wins over Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United on Friday night.
The first half at the Emirates Stadium saw no goal action despite both sides producing a combined 26 shots, nine of them on target and three combined big chances.
The defining moment of the game came in the 55th minute when Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard laid the ball for Declan Rice to fire in a powerful first-time shot that was beyond the reach of Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope.
Eddie Howe’s side tried to find an equaliser but Mikel Arteta’s men held firm to not only secure their place among Europe’s elite next season but also guaranteed finishing in second place with one round of fixtures left to play.
Arsenal’s win over Newcastle secures Champions League football for the Gunners next season!
#ARSNEW pic.twitter.com/Wlttr0z6KV
— Premier League (@premierleague) May 18, 2025
With Arsenal’s Champions League spot secured, Newcastle will battle for their own place with a final day tie at home to Everton.
In another race for Champions League football, goals from Morgan Gibbs-White and Nikola Milenkovic earned Nottingham Forest a 2-1 away win at West Ham United.
Nuno Espirito’s men remain in seventh place but are tied on 65 points with sixth-place Man City and will host Chelsea in a deciding clash at the City Ground next Sunday.
Away from the battle for Champions League football, Senegal’s Iliman Ndiaye scored twice as Everton defeated Southampton 2-0 in the Toffees’ final game at Goodison Park.
Meanwhile, departing Leicester City legend Jamie Vardy scored on his 500th club appearance in a 2-0 win over Ipswich Town.
At the Gtech Community Stadium, Fulham claimed bragging rights over London rivals Brentford with a 3-2 win.
Raul Jimenez put the Cottagers in front after 16 minutes before the Bees were 2-1 up courtesy of goals from Cameroon forward Bryan Mbeumo, who also missed a penalty, and DR Congo forward Yoane Wissa.
Fulham were able to re-establish their lead through Tom Cairney and Harry Wilson.
