Arsenal beat Newcastle to qualify for Champions League

Arsenal have done it. They have qualified for next seasons Champions League. It was Laurent Koscielny who popped up with the goods on 52 minutes, a goal which turned out to be the winning one as the Gunners qualified for the Champions League for the sixteenth successive year. Koscielny's goal was only the icing on the cake of what capped off a brilliant end to the season for the French defender. Tottenham had won at White Hart Lane, but that was irrelevant now that Arsenal had done the job that was needed at St James' Park on Sunday afternoon. Chelsea had also won which meant we had to settle for fourth place in this seasons Barclays Premiership.

Arsenal had made a habit of winning despite not playing very well recently and that is exactly what we witnessed once again. It should have been made more comfortable but it was a moment to savour for the players who celebrated as though they'd just won the league itself. If the players and Arsene celebrate like that at a top four place, god knows what they'd do if we won a trophy. 8 years and counting remember. Will next season be our year at last? Let's hope so.

Back to the match and the Gunners starting XI was unchanged from the side that beat Wigan in the week. Arteta passed a late fitness test but then hobbled off midway through the first half. Meanwhile Giroud was back amongst the subs as he returned from suspension.

Koscielny was the hero as Arsenal beat Newcastle

The first shot on goal came 5 minutes in as Walcott tried his luck from the edge of the area but he could only put the ball over the bar.

It was Newcastle who found their rhythm first though and almost took the lead. Yanga-Mbiwa did well to beat Mertesacker and then pull the ball back to Cisse but his rasping shot flew inches over the bar.

Minutes later Newcastle had another great chance but Koscielny came across to deny what would've been a tap in for Cisse.

With half an hour gone the score was still deadlocked as Santi Cazorla skied a shot following good play from Gibbs down the left hand side.

Hatem Ben Arfa created the next chance for the hosts as he managed to evade two Arsenal players before getting into the box and firing over.

The score at half time was 0-0.

Moments into the second half Arsenal were gifted with a chance to go ahead. Harper kicked the ball straight out to Ramsey who then found Walcott but Harper made up for his error by making a good stop at the far post.

The Gunners did then find the goal they desperately needed. Cabaye brought down Sagna which resulted in a free-kick down the right flank. Walcott's set piece was then flicked towards Koscielny who acrobatically found the back of the net.

The game was now starting to become more open as Oxlade-Chamberlain hit a shot from distance but it was always rising and flew over the bar.

Cazorla was another player to then hit a shot from range but this time it bounced wide.

In the final minute of the game Theo Walcott had a great chance to seal the win. Yanga-Mbiwa dispossesed Giroud but the ball fell to Walcott who raced clear of the defence before hitting the post.

The final score finished Newcastle 0-1 Arsenal.

The teams lineups:

Newcastle: Harper, Debuchy, Taylor, Coloccini, Yanga-Mbiwa(80), Tiote, Cabaye(57), Gutierrez, Ben Arfa, Cisse, Gouffran(65).
Subs: Alnwick, Simpson, Anita(57), Perch, Obertan, Marveaux(65), Campbell(80).

Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs, Arteta(28), Ramsey, Rosicky, Cazorla(89), Walcott, Podolski(77).
Subs: Fabianski, Vermaelen, Monreal, Wilshere(89), Oxlade-Chamberlain(28), Gervinho, Giroud(77).

My man of the match: Laurent Koscielny

Referee: Howard Webb
Attendance: 52,354

Arsenal win to relegate FA Cup winners Wigan

Newcastle. That's all that stands in the way between Arsenal and a 16th successive Champions League place next season following Arsenal's win against Wigan. We'd seen time and time again what the Gunners could do on the counter attack this season and we witnessed a ruthless display once more as a Podolski double and strikes from Walcott and Ramsey saw off the challenge of the FA Cup winners on Tuesday night. It was just what was needed with there being only 90 minutes of the season left with still all to play for. Arsenal made just one change to the side that beat QPR as Gibbs replaced Monreal. Meanwhile Fabianski returned from injury and was amongst the subs.

Santi Cazorla was the star of the show as he set up all 4 of Arsenal's goals

Arsenal first goal was typical of the way Wigan had defended this season. In the FA Cup final they were very resolute and solid but their defence left Podolski unmarked as he headed home Cazorla's corner on 11 minutes.

It had been all Arsenal right up until the break when Shaun Maloney, the visitors star player this season, bent home a curling free-kick to go in at half time all level.

Just after the hour mark Arsenal were back in front though as Cazorla's ball across goal found Walcott who got there ahead of Joel to find the net.

Minutes later the Gunners had a third and Podolski had his second. It was more poor defending as Scharner played Podolski onside and he managed to loft the ball over the goalkeeper and into the back of the net.

The rout was then completed as Aaron Ramsey grabbed his first Premier League goal of the season. Cazorla found the Welshman who then raced clear before burying his shot from a tight angle.

The final score finished Arsenal 4-1 Wigan.

The teams lineups:

Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs, Ramsey, Arteta(90), Rosicky(78), Walcott, Cazorla, Podolski(78).
Subs: Fabianski, Vermaelen(90), Monreal, Jenkinson, Wilshere(78), Oxlade-Chamberlain(78), Gervinho. 

Wigan: Joel, Boyce, Alcaraz, Scharner, Espinoza, McManaman(58), Maloney(85), McArthur, McCarthy, Gomez(64), Kone.
Subs: Al Habsi, Caldwell, Golobart, Watson(64), Fyvie, Di Santo(58), Henriquez(85). 

My man of the match: Santi Cazorla

Referee: Mike Dean
Attendance: 60,068

Early Walcott goal seals win over QPR

A very early Theo Walcott strike was enough to seal all three points for Arsenal last Saturday, the 4th May, as they put in an unconvincing performance to beat already relegated QPR. The win meant the Gunners returned to winning ways having drawn with Man United previously and also extended their unbeaten run to eight games. This run was key in the Gunners hopes for Champions League football but with Spurs drawing with Chelsea the day after, everything was still to play for. The team line-up for the match saw just one change as Nacho Monreal replaced Gibbs. Lukas Podolski once more got a chance to show the manager what he's made of up front.

Wojciech Szczesny returned to form as Arsenal beat QPR

It was a very lively start for the Gunners as on only 20 seconds they were ahead. Arteta split the defence and found Walcott who fired home via the post.

With the game having gone quiet for a while, Theo Walcott sprung to life to almost score his second of the afternoon. However the post was in the way to deny him.

QPR's first chance fell minutes later on 27 minutes as Park found space to work a shot but blazed it over the bar.

Park was to then get another chance but this time it was closed down well and the shot bounced out for a corner.

The hosts were now starting to find their game and Ben Haim then tried a shot from range but Szczesny was equal to it.

The score at half time was 1-0 to Arsenal.

Arsenal were proving to be very wasteful and if it wasn't for Szczesny then Loic Remy would've scored two goals. The first almost found the head of the Frenchman but the goalkeeper managed to claw it away. The second was more straight forward as it was straight at Szczesny

Townsend was the next player to trouble the Arsenal goal as he drove a shot from distance but it was kept out once again.

It then summed up the performance as Laurent Koscielny had Arsenal's first shot since Walcott's strike against the post in the first half. 

Santi Cazorla who hadn't really been in the game then tried his luck at goal. Rob Green was in the way though and he stopped the Spaniard's swerving shot from going in.

Arsenal were desperately looking for that two goal cushion as Walcott then went close after out muscling Ben Haim in the air and then having a shot saved at the near post.

In the dying minutes of the game QPR almost grabbed an equaliser. Loic Remy fired a shot which was curling inside the far post but Szczesny sprawled across his goal to make a brilliant save.

The final score finished QPR 0-1 Arsenal.

The team's lineups:

QPR: Green, Onuoha, Hill, Ben Haim, Traore(90), Park(79), Jenas, Mbia(46), Townsend, Remy, Zamora.
Subs: Murphy, Derry(46), Fabio(90), Granero, Taarabt(79), Mackie, Bothroyd.

Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Arteta, Ramsey, Rosicky(90), Cazorla(89), Walcott, Podolski(85).
Subs: Mannone, Vermaelen(90), Jenkinson, Coquelin, Wilshere(89), Oxlade-Chamberlain(85), Gervinho. 

My man of the match: Wojciech Szczesny

Referee: Jon Moss
Attendance: 18,178

Arsenal hold already crowned champions to draw

Arsenal and newly crowned Premier League champions Manchester United faced each other last Saturday in what turned out to be a more important game for the Gunners. The match saw the return of Robin Van Persie to the Emirates and of course he witnessed a very hostile reception as chorus of boos rang out every time he got on the ball. That wasn't the only thing though, the Gunners had to perform a guard of honour for their rivals in recognition of them winner the 2012/13 Premier League campaign. In terms of the line-up, there were a few key changes as Gibbs replaced Monreal and Podolski came in for the suspended Olivier Giroud as the German finally got a chance up front.

Arsenal led after only 2 minutes through Theo Walcott. Podolski turned and then found Rosicky who played the ball in behind to Walcott who raced clear before finding the back of the net. The players looked really up for the game, tackles were flying in from every direction and they were looking ruthless on the attack. If only that could've continued. Arsenal's defensive displays had looked much better in recent weeks and if it wasn't for Sagna's mistakes, we would have surely gone onto win the game. The Frenchman mistimed a pass straight to Van Persie and then he brought him down resulting in a penalty. RVP was the man to take the penalty and he slammed the ball home against his former employers. The second half was very different from the first though as the teams looked more equal. However no goal could be found again and it ended Arsenal 1-1 Manchester United.

Theo Walcott scored early on to give the Gunners the lead

The teams lineups:

Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs, Arteta, Ramsey(79), Rosicky(61), Cazorla, Walcott, Podolski(72).
Subs: Mannone, Vermaelen, Monreal, Jenkinson, Wilshere(61), Oxlade-Chamberlain(79), Gervinho(72).

Man United: De Gea, Rafael(74), Evans, Ferdinand, Evra, Jones, Carrick, Valencia, Nani(82), Rooney(88), Van Persie.
Subs: Lingegaard, Buttner, Anderson(74), Giggs(82), Cleverley, Kagawa, Hernandez(88).

My man of the match: Laurent Koscielny

Referee: Phil Dowd
Attendance: 60,112