Report: Arsenal gift-wrap Tottenham Champions League spot after collapse against rampant Newcastle

Callum Wilson celebrates Ben White own goal Newcastle v Arsenal

Arsenal virtually handed their north London rivals Tottenham the final Champions League place after a feeble display saw them go down to a 2-0 defeat at a rampant Newcastle.

The home side were dominant throughout and fully deserved their victory, given to them by Ben White’s own goal and a Bruno Guimaraes strike. The loss for the Gunners leaves them two points behind Spurs with just one game to go.

Toon frontman Callum Wilson was handed a first start since December 27 and the captain’s armband with it. Defender Fabian Schar also started, with Chris Wood and Jamaal Lascelles the two to make way.

Gunners defender Ben White returned from a groin injury to start, with Rob Holding banned. Nuno Tavares and Emile Smith Rowe also came in for Cedric Soares and Gabriel Martinelli respectively.

Newcastle dominated the opening half, with Aaron Ramsdale making a brilliant save to deny Allan Saint-Maximin in the 37th minute.

At the other end Bukayo Saka drilled an effort at Martin Dubravka, while Mikel Arteta was forced into a change when Takehiro Tomiyasu limped off and had to be replaced by Cedric.

There was a worrying moment for Schar at the start of the second period when he was caught in mid-air by Nketiah and fell heavily to the turf. The Newcastle defender came off and was replaced by concussion substitute Lascelles.

The visitors made a change of their own moments later. The disappointing Smith Rowe was replaced by Gabrielle Martinelli on the left.

Unfortunate White error lifts Newcastle

The deadlock was deservedly broken by Newcastle in the 56th minute when Ben White put through his own net. Joelinton was released down the left and his cross was met by the outstretched boot of White, who diverted the ball past Ramsdale.

Arteta immediately turned to Alexandre Lacazette from the bench, with Tavares making way.

The lively Wilson missed a great chance to make it two when he volleyed over from 10 yards, before Lacazette suffered a nasty blow to his head and eventually returned to the action all bandaged up.

Arteta then took the gamble with 18 minutes to go when he replaced Gabriel with record signing Nicolas Pepe.

The home side made a double change of their own. Jacob Murphy and Ryan Fraser replaced Miguel Almiron and Saint-Maximin.

And they should have wrapped up the points on the break with a two-on-one. However, Murphy could only test the palms of Ramsdale before an outrageous 40-yard effort from Wilson left the Gunners stopper stranded but it drifted narrowly wide.

It was 2-0 though in the 83rd minute when Ramsdale saved from Wilson. However, the rebound fell to Guimaraes to fire home.

It was almost three in stoppage-time time but Ramsdale made a fine stop to deny Ryan Fraser.

The Gunners will now have to hope that relegated Norwich beat Tottenham and they do likewise to Everton to seal an unlikely top-four place.