Magpies miss their cue as Champions League still not certain

NEWCASTLE United's fight for a Champions League berth will go right down to the wire after a painful 1-0 defeat at the Emirates Stadium.

- By LEE RYDER

Despite being offered a series of gift-wrapped opportunities to leap-frog the Gunners, the moments to win the game came and went - even though Eddie Howe's side created 14 goal attempts.

Denied on numerous occasions by David Raya, Newcastle's performance could be deemed unlucky in some ways, but when the muck and bullets were flying it was Arsenal who stood tallest. And Declan Rice’s 55th-minute goal means that third place is the best Newcastle can now hope for once all the points have been handed out.

It will make for a nervous end to the season with Jordan Pickford standing in the way next weekend as Everton head to Tyneside for the final day.

Forced to go into battle at the Emirates Stadium without the services of Alexander Isak, Newcastle - who lined up with a 4-2-3-1 formation - handed Callum Wilson his big chance from the start.

The service to the No.9 was under the microscope in North London, but it was a poor clearance from David Raya that almost handed Newcastle an early lead.

Raya's ball was intercepted by Sandro Tonali, who found Wilson before it fell for Bruno Guimaraes, with the Arsenal keeper forced into an early save.