Arsenal snapped a season-long jinx against Newcastle United with a nervy 1-0 win in its last Premier League 2024-25 home game on Sunday to secure the runner-up spot and a place in next season’s Champions League.

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

Rice punished Newcastle for its first-half profligacy when he connected sweetly with Martin Odegaard’s pass to rifle a curling effort past Nick Pope in the 55th minute.

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Arsenal, winless in its last three league games, was indebted to keeper David Raya in the first half as he made saves from Bruno Guimaraes, Tino Livramento, Harvey Barnes and Dan Burn as the visitor dominated.

Whatever was said at halftime appeared to wake it from its lethargy, and with an away game to finish at bottom club Southampton next weekend, a third successive second-placed finish looks guaranteed, albeit this time a distant one.

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

Newcastle remains in third place with 66 points, but only one point separates it from seventh-placed Nottingham Forest as the battle for the other three Champions League spots will go down to the wire next Sunday.