EPL: Arsenal clinch Champions League spot as N’Forest beat West Ham

Arsenal secured their place in the Champions League as Declan Rice’s stunning strike sealed a 1-0 win against top five rivals Newcastle on Sunday.

Rice’s brilliant second half strike at the Emirates Stadium guaranteed Arsenal will compete in Europe’s elite club competition next season.

The Gunners ended a five-game winless streak to avoid a nervous last day of the season next weekend, with the battle for top five places no longer a concern for the Gunners.

Second-placed Arsenal are likely to finish as Premier League runners-up for a third successive season after failing to keep pace with champions Liverpool.

The north Londoners, who lost in the Champions League semi-finals against Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), have now gone five years without a trophy.

Despite another season of frustration for Arsenal, they still look the most likely challengers for Liverpool’s crown next term.

Third-placed Newcastle are above fourth-placed Chelsea and fifth-placed Aston Villa on goal difference.

Sixth-placed Manchester City would go above Newcastle if they avoid defeat in their game in hand at home to Bournemouth on Tuesday.

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Nottingham Forest, in seventh place, are only one point behind League Cup winners Newcastle in a remarkably close race to reach the Champions League.

Newcastle will have to beat Everton at St James’ Park in their last game of the season on May 25 to seal qualification.

Everton said farewell to Goodison Park in style as Iliman Ndiaye’s double sealed an emotional 2-0 win over Southampton, while Jamie Vardy brought down the curtain on his Leicester career with his 200th goal for the club in Sunday’s 2-0 victory against Ipswich.

Nottingham Forest also won 2-1 at West Ham to keep alive their hopes of playing in the Champions League for the first time since 1980-81.

Fulham won 3-2 at west London rivals Brentford to remain in the hunt for a top-eight finish.

The Star