ARSENAL booked their place in next season’s Champions League with a crucial 1-0 win over Newcastle.
Declan Rice struck the only goal of the game on a nervy afternoon at the Emirates.
APDeclan Rice proved to be the difference-maker as Arsenal beat Newcastle[/caption]
ReutersDavid Raya was in superb form for the Gunners in goal[/caption]
Mikel Arteta named an attacking lineup for the visit of Toon, who had won eight out of the last ten Prem games.
Following a nervy first half, Rice stepped up to slam in the opener just after the break.
There was concern among Gunners’ fans with William Saliba hooked off at half-time with a knock.
But the Gunners held on for a crucial three points and will again host Champions League football next season.
SunSport’s Lloyd Canfield was on hand to give his player ratings from the Emirates…
David Raya – 10
Arsenal‘s busiest and best player in the first half, the Spanish stopper kept his side in the game when they could’ve been two or three goals down in the opening 30 minutes.
It was a flawless performance with good distribution, composure on the ball, aerial claims, and key saves whenever he was called upon.
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Everything you could ask for from your number one.
Myles Lewis-Skelly – 6
Seemed a little slow in the first half, with too many misplaced passes and not seeming to be on the same wavelength as Gabriel Martinelli.
For a player usually so tidy on the ball, he didn’t look himself in the first 45, but was still pretty strong defensively and wasn’t caused a mass of problems by Jacob Murphy.
Improved in the second half, as did most of his team-mates, with a solid performance in a makeshift Arsenal defence.
Jakob Kiwior – 8
The man who has stepped up in Gabriel’s absence was impressive today, stepping in at vital moments to win the ball back for his side and making tackles when needed.
Showed good versatility to move to the right side of defence too, when Saliba was taken off with a suspected injury.
Has been better than almost every fan gave him credit for, and might just be a solution rather than a backup if the rumours of Saliba moving to Real Madrid turn out to have any substance.
William Saliba – 5
Arsenal’s Rolls Royce centre-half hasn’t had the easiest end to the season, and just doesn’t look at the moment like the model of consistency he has previously been for the Gunners.
His partnership with Gabriel has been one of the best in the Premier League, but he looked as though he sorely missed his partner at the back today, mis-placing a pass that almost cost his side a goal in the first half, and not looking as confident defensively as he usually does.
The Frenchman was subbed at half-time in what was his 100th Prem appearance with what you would assume was an injury.
Ben White – 7
His link-up with Bukayo Saka on the right-hand side has been a staple of what has made this Arsenal side so, so dangerous – and it’s something that the Gunners have missed this season all too often.
Claimed the assist for Declan Rice‘s opener with a simple pass from an advanced position on the right, and very nearly doubled his side’s lead with a venomous effort from outside the area.
He generally did well defensively to marshal the dangerous Anthony Gordon and Tino Livramento going forward for Newcastle.
Declan Rice – 8
Having been such an influential player for the Gunners this season, Rice was presented with the Player of the Month award ahead of kick-off today.
It was a tale of two halves for the £105m man, having been bossed by Bruno Guimaraes in the first 45, he stepped up in the second with a rocket of a finish into the bottom left corner to give his side the lead.
That goal seemed to spring him, Arsenal and the Emirates crowd into life, and lifted the spirit of the entire ground.
That’s what you expect from a big midfielder, and he delivered again.
Thomas Partey – 6
Very, very slow on the ball in the first half, as fans grew frustrated with his decision-making.
The Arsenal No5 looked ponderous in transition, and was quite simply outran and outplayed by Tonali and Guimaraes, despite the result.
Despite making a vital tackle in the first half, the incoming Martin Zubimendi should be a welcome lease of life and energy in midfield for Arteta’s side.
Martin Odegaard – 3
Not good enough.
Perhaps he is a victim of his high standards, but it is frustrating for Arsenal fans to know what a quality player they have who is simply underperforming as of late.
A once-magisterial midfielder, he seemed to play the safe pass all too often, and still misplaced it.
When deciding to have a go from range, he failed to test the goalkeeper, frustrating fans even further – one even asking for him to be stripped of the captaincy and it to be given to Rice.
Gabriel Martinelli – 5
Probably the most threatening of Arsenal’s forward line, he worked incredibly hard down the left side.
Impressed with his hold-up play and speed, but just didn’t quite have the end product required when it was needed to bring a truly impressive performance to the table.
It felt a bit as though he was being doubled up on by Newcastle because of Arsenal’s lack of a central threat until Kai Havertz came on.
Bukayo Saka – 4
He was almost invisible in the first half, when his side needed him to step up with a big performance.
He did improve in the second half, but still seemed far from his electric best, only really threatening with a tame effort at Nick Pope.
Was substituted for the returning Havertz with just under 20 minutes to go.
Leandro Trossard – 4
Trossard and Martinelli seemed to take it in turns to occupy the No9 position for Arsenal, with both of them preferring to be out on the left-hand side.
The Belgian failed to really provide any kind of threat up top, and without Martinelli’s engine, he wasn’t as much trouble as the Brazilian out on the wing.
Seemed to take a touch too many too often, and struggled physically against Newcastle’s man-mountain defenders.
Substitutes
RICCARDO CALAFIORI (WILLIAM SALIBA, HT) – 6
Solid at centre-half since replacing Saliba at half-time, with the Gunners looking a better side defensively after his introduction.
Seemed to marshal the Arsenal defence and was solid along the ground and in the air.
KAI HAVERTZ (BUKAYO SAKA, 75) – 6
Was given a standing ovation on his return from injury, but didn’t provide any great deal of attacking threat.
Not that you can hold that against him given the circumstances and only 15 minutes to get back up to speed with Premier League football in such a big game.
JORGINHO (MARTIN ODEGAARD, 90) – N/A
Didn’t have enough time to make any kind of impact.
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