Arsenal player ratings vs Newcastle: Declan Rice, you beauty! Gunners seal Champions League qualification thanks to midfielder’s stunner and David Raya’s super saves…

Arsenal player evaluations against Newcastle: Declan Rice shines! The Gunners secure Champions League qualification thanks to a stunning goal from the midfielder and exceptional saves by David Raya.

For the third consecutive season, Arsenal solidified their second-place position in the Premier League with a narrow victory on the second-to-last weekend of the 2024-25 season.

The Gunners clinched their spot in next season’s Champions League with a 1-0 win over Newcastle United at home on Sunday afternoon, thereby securing second place in the Premier League.

The Magpies could have overtaken the Gunners in the standings had they won, but ultimately fell short as Mikel Arteta’s squad triumphed.

The hosts encountered difficulties early on when David Raya’s low kick was intercepted by Sandro Tonali.

The Italian set up Callum Wilson, whose cutback was aimed at goal by Bruno Guimaraes, but he was thwarted by two desperate saves from the remorseful Spaniard in goal.

Raya then showcased his skills by tipping a deflected shot from Harvey Barnes behind for a corner, and the Gunners survived a chaotic goal-mouth scramble that saw their goalkeeper deny Dan Burn and Sven Botman from a challenging corner.

Despite a challenging first half, Arsenal took the lead shortly after the break.

Bukayo Saka regained possession high up the pitch and skillfully evaded two defenders before passing to Martin Odegaard, who laid the ball back for Declan Rice to score from the edge of the box – marking the Gunners’ first goal against Newcastle this season after 52 attempts.

Although Newcastle was missing their sought-after striker Alexander Isak, they exerted all their efforts in pursuit of an equalizer, but it was insufficient to truly challenge Arsenal, and Rice’s goal remained the only one in north London after nearly 100 minutes of play.

GOAL assesses the performances of Arsenal’s players from the Emirates Stadium.

Goalkeeper & Defense

David Raya (8/10):

Had it not been for Raya’s four remarkable saves in the first half, Arsenal would have faced a likely defeat.

Despite his inconsistent kicking, the team owes a debt of gratitude to their goalkeeper.

Ben White (5/10):

Showed signs of rustiness as he works on regaining match fitness after a prolonged injury layoff, but he at least contributed to a clean sheet.

William Saliba (6/10):

The Frenchman’s 100th Premier League match ended prematurely at half-time, with Calafiori taking over.

He defended his area effectively, despite some chaos in front of him.

Jakub Kiwior (7/10):

There were concerns among Arsenal supporters regarding the Polish defender’s inclusion following Gabriel Magalhaes’ injury, but he largely performed admirably, particularly today with several key clearances and tackles.

Myles Lewis-Skelly (6/10):

Drove into midfield and down the left side to inject some energy into Arsenal’s lackluster performance. Midfield.

Thomas Partey (6/10):

Cleared up when Arsenal faced pressure, although his decision-making occasionally hindered that effort.

Martin Odegaard (5/10):

While the statistics will reflect that Odegaard provided a vital assist, he still appears to be a shadow of the player who was in the running for Player of the Year last season.

He was substituted for Jorginho in stoppage time.

Declan Rice (8/10):

Although he had minimal impact in the first half when Arsenal struggled, it was typical of his season that the £105m midfielder delivered a stunning goal to turn the tide.

Attack.

Bukayo Saka (6/10):

Not his best performance, but Arsenal’s star player worked tirelessly off the ball, which ultimately led to Rice’s winning goal, as he dispossessed Anthony Gordon to initiate the play. He was substituted for the returning Havertz late in the game.

Leandro Trossard (5/10):

Moved between center forward and left wing alongside Martinelli, but the experienced Belgian struggled to make an impact in any position.

He was substituted for Tierney.

Gabriel Martinelli (6/10):

Lacked sharpness in attack, yet contributed with relentless effort and relieved pressure through skillful dribbling.