Paul Merson
Former Arsenal midfielder speaking on Sky Sports

If you look at the all-round picture, four/five years ago they were also-rans, the club's gone, it's going nowhere. He [Mikel Arteta] put the heart back in the club. The fans are here, they turn up every week again. They're not far away, they need a centre forward.

[They've had] a couple of injuries here and there and I know people go, 'everyone has injuries', no, they don't. Not to key, key players. I always say it, if you took [Mohamed] Salah and [Virgil van] Dijk out of that Liverpool team, believe me that is not winning the league if they're out for a long period of time. And that's what's happened, [Bukayo] Saka's a big player for them, [Kai] Havertz, people have a go at him, he's a big player. When he hasn't been playing he's been missed.

They need a couple of players. I hope he doesn't end up like [Arsene] Wenger did a couple of years into his reign when everyone knew they needed a centre-back. They need a centre forward.

Image source, Getty Images

Newcastle’s Emil Krafth was booked 33 seconds after coming on as a substitute, the fastest sub card in a Premier League match since Jay Rodriguez for Burnley against Southampton in October 2021 (29 seconds).

Newcastle had five shots on target in the opening 17 minutes, but didn’t manage another one for the rest of the game.

Here’s BBC Radio Newcastle commentator Matthew Raisbeck and pundit John Anderson’s reaction at full-time.

In the league Arsenal's top scorer is Kai Havertz, with nine goals, despite this being his first game since February.

Some 23 players have scored more than the German.

Declan Rice’s opener was his 19th goal involvements in all competitions this season (nine goals, 10 assists), with only Bukayo Saka (25) having a hand in more for Arsenal this term.

Arsenal

Image source, Reuters

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, speaking on the pitch after the match: "We had a dream, it was to be here or in a week's time and bring the big trophies to you guys and we couldn't do it for many circumstances. We need to make sure that chasing a dream doesn't get blurry and make sure we chase the dream with positivity and enthusiasm for next season.

"We have to start creating our own history here in this stadium and we started this season. There is much more to come and it won't be easy. These players have the talent.

"We need to rest and finish at Southampton and then go on holiday. Any other club in this position would finish in a position that we cannot even dream of."

Arsenal

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard speaking on the pitch after the match: "We can be proud of what we've done, especially in the Champions League, we had a great run there and some great experiences. We have to accept we haven't been good enough in the league, but we have to take all experiences, good and bad, take them into next season and be better.

"Unbelievable [Champions League], those are the nights we live for. To play here at home with that support. Great game and hopefully we can have many moments like that next season. Unbelievable to feel that and the love from the fans.

"We want to thank the fans. We always feel the love, the support we have is amazing so thank you. We have to use all experiences from this season, to feel that pain of not winning and take it to next season and come back stronger and bring the club some trophies next season."

And so did captain Martin Odegaard. Let's see what he had to say.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is speaking to the fans from the pitch now. With a microphone, he's not just very loud.

Gary Neville
Former Manchester United defender on Sky Sports

A really good day for Arsenal. Having gone out of Europe 10 days ago, to get a point at Anfield and the victory here today having not play well in the first half, you saw Mikel Arteta give his staff a warm hug. You can see the mood there that it's put him in.

It's not a perfect season but they'll continue on and they're back in the Champions League which is really important.

Arsenal are guaranteed* second now.

*well unless Manchester City make up six points and a 10-goal swing with their two games left to Arsenal's one.

Glenn Murray
Former Brighton striker on BBC Radio 5 Live at Emirates Stadium

Limping to second.

Arsenal have been second to an exceptional Man City [in previous seasons].

Man City fell off, you would have thought Arsenal were the team primed to take that place.

Liverpool snuck in, and won it at a canter.

Arsenal's David Raya and Nottingham Forest's Mats Selz are joint on 13 clean sheets in the 'battle for the Golden Glove', an award I swear nobody talked about until three or four years ago.