Newcastle 0-1 Arsenal: Alan Pardew sure Magpies will improve

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew is pleased with Newcastle's performance despite their 1-0 final-day defeat at the hands of Arsenal, saying the Gunners "will know they have been in a match".

Pardew predicts Newcastle "will be a lot stronger" next season and blames his side's low finish on the extra matches they played in the Europa League, a competition he admits "hurt us a little bit".

After flirting with relegation Newcastle secured their Premier League status by beating QPR last weekend and finish the season in 16th place with 41 points.