Arsenal ended their run of defeats against Newcastle United with a nervy 1-0 win in their last Premier League home game on Sunday, all but securing second place and a spot in next season's Champions League.

Three defeats against Eddie Howe's side during the campaign could easily have become four, had the visitors converted a flurry of early chances. However, Declan Rice calmed the nerves.

He punished Newcastle for their profligacy in the first half when he connected sweetly with Martin Ødegaard's pass to rifle a curling effort past Nick Pope in the 55th minute.

Arsenal, who were winless in their last three league games, were indebted to goalkeeper David Raya in the first half, as he made saves from Bruno Guimaraes, Valentino Livramento, Harvey Barnes and Dan Burn, while the visitors dominated. Whatever was said at half-time appeared to rouse Arsenal, though, and with an away game against bottom club Southampton next weekend, a third successive second-place finish looks guaranteed, albeit this time by a large margin.

Arsenal have 71 points from 37 games, and only sixth-placed Manchester City — who have two games remaining — can match that.

Newcastle remain in third place with 66 points, but they are only one point ahead of seventh-placed Nottingham Forest, and the battle for the other three Champions League spots will go down to the wire on Sunday.

Arsenal's season promised so much, but League Cup semi-final defeat by Newcastle, a lacklustre attempt to chase Liverpool in the title race, and a Champions League semi-final exit against Paris Saint-Germain meant their campaign fizzled out.