Mikel Arteta gutted as Arsenal defeat at Newcastle leaves Champions League hopes in tatters

Planet Sport writer
16 May 2022

Ben White own goal and Bruno Guimaraes strike secured Newcastle win; Mikel Arteta's Arsenal must beat Everton and hope Tottenham lose at Norwich to make Champions League

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta labelled his side's 2-0 defeat at Newcastle as "extremely poor" and said it was not at the level required to qualify for the Champions League.

It was a huge blow for the Gunners whose hopes of finishing in the Premier League top four have been left in tatters with one game left in the campaign.

Arteta's side needed victory to lift themselves above Tottenham into fourth and put them in control of the race for Champions League qualification going into the final weekend of the season.

But they were out-thought and outplayed by the Magpies as a Ben White own goal and a late strike by Bruno Guimaraes secured a comfortable win for the hosts.

"If someone isn't ready for this game, stay at home" 😐

Granit Xhaka says the Arsenal players didn't deserve to be on the pitch today..pic.twitter.com/0rvSmBg1YK
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) May 16, 2022

Arteta told Sky Sports: "It was a really difficult night to swallow. Newcastle deserved to win the match comfortably. They were much better than us from the beginning to the last minute and we had nothing in the game.

"We tried to change some things, but it did not make it better. The goals we gave away were extremely poor.

"The performance was nowhere near the level we have to play in the Champions League. It's a very painful one."

Grand finale

On the last day of the season on Sunday Arsenal host Everton, while Spurs head to Norwich knowing a draw should be enough considering their vastly superior goal difference.

On the race for the top four, Arteta added: "It was in our hands, today it's not in our hands. We have to beat Everton and wait for Norwich to beat Spurs.

"There's always a chance in football and you have to be there just in case that chance appears."

What a night!!! God is faithful! Thank you Lord for everything and thank you Newcastle United for this moment! @NUFC 🖤🤍😘 pic.twitter.com/lEKjBqjIc7
— Bruno Guimarães (@brunoog97) May 16, 2022

Granit Xhaka accused his Arsenal team-mates of ignoring Arteta's game plan.

The defender added: "We came here to show a different game, but from the first minute until the 90th minute we didn't deserve to be on the pitch.

"We didn't do what the game plan was, not listening to the coach. We were doing our things and when you do your things, this is what happens.

"You don't deserve to play Champions League, you don't deserve to even play Europa League. It's very hard to take and I don't know why we don't do what the coach is asking of us."