Arsenal’s hopes of featuring in the Champions League next season took a major dent following a surprise 2-0 loss at Newcastle on Monday night.
The Gunners lost 3-0 in the north London derby last time out, and watched as their London rivals moved above them with a home win over Burnley over the weekend, and knew they needed a win to keep alive hopes of playing in the Champions League next season.
This did not happen though as two second-half goals – an own goal and one from Guimaraes – condemned them to yet another defeat on the road.
Newcastle enjoyed much of the possession in the opening half, creating a number of clear chances.
Joelinton and Allan Saint-Maximin were particularly lively, creating all sorts of problems for the Gunners defense.
The first clear chance arrived after 18 minutes, and it unsurprisingly fell to the hosts. Sean Longstaff tried his luck from distance, but it was cleverly intercepted by Aaron Ramsdale.
The Magpies kept on pushing and could have easily taken the lead in the 36th minute when Allan Saint-Maximin got some space and unleashed a powerful shot from the edge of the box after a brilliant solo effort.
The ball went towards the bottom left corner, but Ramsdale made a crucial save as the Gunners got a corner kick.
Despite their efforts, the hosts could not find a breakthrough with the match going into the break still goalless.
The hosts picked the second half from where they left the first, pinning the Gunners deep in their own half for long periods.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 56th minute when Ben White suffered a good deal of misfortune as he accidentally put a pass from the wing into his own net.
Newcastle then lost a great chance just after the hour mark when Callum Wilson got a chance inside the box, but his attempted volley narrowly went over the bar.
Wilson once again found a chance with 15 minutes to go when he collected a brilliant pass inside the box and found himself in a goal-scoring opportunity, but the effort was well blocked by one of the defending players.
Newcastle came close to making it 2-0 when Wilson unleashed an ambitious long-range shot having spotted Ramsdale off his line, but the ball somehow brushed the upright.
Bruno Guimaraes then sealed the win five minutes from time after he reacted quickest to get to a rebound and stabbed the ball into the back of the net.
The loss means Arsenal will have to beat Everton at home in their last match and hope Tottenham lose or draw away at relegated Norwich City.
