After another campaign that is destined to end without silverware, Mikel Arteta will be thankful for small mercies. Sealing second place in the Premier League for a third successive season is not exactly the scenario the Arsenal manager would have envisaged for his side’s last home match when they kicked off against Wolves in August.
Celebrations were noticeably muted as Arsenal’s players paid their respects to the home supporters on the customary lap of honour.
Fans during the closing ceremony after Everton’s win against Southampton, in the last Premier League game at Goodison Park.
“It was emotional because of the way I feel,” Arteta said. “We had a dream to win trophies and we haven’t achieved that. But we have to make sure we are still valid – just expecting something, that’s a really dangerous thing.
“I know [the fans] don’t want us to be knocking on the door every year, but we have to stay very clear and ambitious about what we want to do in the summer.”
At least Arteta had the immediate satisfaction of finally getting one over Eddie Howe at the fourth attempt this season thanks to another blockbuster from Declan Rice. It leaves Newcastle needing to beat Everton at home on the final day to ensure they join Arsenal in the Champions League.
After ending their long wait for silverware by winning the Carabao Cup, their manager will be desperate for Alexander Isak to recover from a nagging groin problem that forced him to miss their trip here. Newcastle have not won any of the four Premier League games he has missed this season.
Other than a goalmouth scramble in stoppage time, Arsenal were able to see out victory relatively comfortably despite losing William Saliba to a suspected hamstring injury at half-time.
