Arsenal are facing a huge task to overtake arch-rivals Tottenham and book their place in next season's Champions League on the final day of this term. But they were handed a significant boost in midweek when Everton finally secured their top-flight status.
It all appeared to be going wrong for the Toffees again. As the half-time whistle blew, Frank Lampard's side found themselves 2-0 down thanks to strikes from Jean-Phillipe Mateta and Jordan Ayew. After their defeat to Brentford on Saturday there was a feeling another shot at survival could pass them by.
But they came out fighting and second half goals from Michael Keane, Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin confirmed Everton's place in the 2022-23 Premier League campaign. They now have nothing left to play for but pride when they travel to north London on Sunday afternoon and that could be a big benefit to the Gunners.
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There was plenty of disappointment on Monday night after Arsenal's lacklustre display against Newcastle. The Gunners simply did not seem up for the fight and played like a team who were already on the beach, rather than one fighting for a Champions League place.
"Newcastle were 100 times better than us in every department from the beginning to the end and it’s hard to accept to accept," Arteta told his post-match press conference. "But you have to accept it and that’s the reality of what happened today on that pitch.
"We knew [what was at stake], but we didn’t cope with it. We didn’t compete, we never got into the game, we put ourselves in trouble time after time, we lost every duel. Every aspect of the game we were second best and Newcastle totally deserved to win the match, probably by a bigger margin as well."
Arsenal will go into the final game of the season needing a big favour from Norwich City and Dean Smith. The Canaries relegation has been confirmed for some time now and it is a match looks gift-wrapped for Tottenham. Even if they hold Conte's men to a draw, Arsenal would need to win by 15 goals which, let's face it, is unlikely.
But they can at least now go into the game knowing that they are likely to face a less motivated side. Had Everton been scrapping for their lives, it would have been a worry for Arteta.
