Newcastle vs Arsenal player ratings: Guimaraes 9, Joelinton 8; White 4, Odegaard 5

Gunners' top-four hopes take massive hit after 2-0 defeat against Newcastle at St James' Park

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  NEWCASTLE RATINGS: Martin Dubravka - 7: Only called on to make a couple comfortable saves in game Newcastle dominated. Well shielded by solid defence all night. Reuters

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  Emil Krafth - 7: Swede has been impressive filling in while Kieran Trippier’s been out injured and linked well with Almiron down right. Fine run and ball to set-up opportunity for Wilson in second half. Getty

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  Fabian Schar - 8: Swiss defender sprayed some lovely balls out from back in first half. Had medical staff racing on to pitch early in second half and nasty collision and fall following challenge by Nketiah. Helped off looking very dazed after lengthy treatment. Reuters

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  Dan Burn - 7: Vital block from big defender on Saka shot on goal in 20th minute and, like others in Newcastle defensive effort, was throwing himself in front of Arsenal shots as visitors searched in vain for a breaththrough. EPA

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  Matt Targett - 8: Full-back offered Newcastle dangerous outlet down left and helped give Tomiyasu torrid time before Japanese was forced off injured. On-loan Aston Villa player was excellent for the Magpies and helped keep Saka quiet. Reuters

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  Sean Longstaff - 7: Driven cross-shot after 19 minutes went straight through hands of Ramsdale before being scrambled clear. Midfielder certainly made his contribution to Newcastle’s non-stop harrying of Gunners. Clever through ball would lead to second goal. EPA

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  Joelinton - 8: Named club’s Player of the Year earlier in day and won thumping 50-50 tackle with Tomiyasu that had crowd on feet in first half. Brilliant low ball into box was turned into own net by White. Immense again from Brazilian who has been revelation in midfield. EPA

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  Bruno Guimaraes - 9: Outstanding game from Brazilian. Pulled strings in midfield as Newcastle dominated possession. Produced a superb cross on turn to set up second-half chance for Wilson. Side-footed home Newcastle’s second. Reuters

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  Allan Saint-Maximin - 8: Trademark run, cut inside from left past Tomiyasu and low strike after 37 minutes that needed Ramsdale to save well at near post. Nice slid-rule pass down line to Joelinton ahead of White’s own goal. PA

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  Miguel Almiron - 7: Epitomised Newcastle’s performance with his workrate, pressure and tackling every time Arsenal were in possession. AFP

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  Callum Wilson - 9: First start since December for striker but pace and power were constant threat. His presence at near post forced White into conceding own goal. Struck first-time volley over bar just after hour mark and hit superb long-range effort over Ramsdale in last 10 minutes that dropped just wide. EPA

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  SUBS: Jamaal Lascelles – (On for Schar 49’) 7: Club captain slotted straight into Newcastle defence and coped easily with Gunners attacking efforts. Getty

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  Jacob Murphy – (On for Almiron 76’) N/A. Skipped past Saka very easily and saw cross-shot from tight angle tipped to safety by Ramsdale. Should have scored with Magpies through three-on-one but shot too close to keeper. AFP

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  Ryan Fraser – (On for Saint-Maximin 76’) N/A. Denied goal by fine Ramsdale stop. Reuters

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  Dwight Gayle – (On for Wilson 90’ + 3) N/A. Getty

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  ARSENAL RATINGS: Aaron Ramsdale - 6: Nervy start from goalkeeper with slips, poor clearances and dodgy handling. Fine save low down to deny Saint-Maximin late in first half, though. Busy second half, pulling off several good stops, as Gunners threw caution to wind looking for goals. Reuters

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  Takehiro Tomiyasu - 4: Not the best of games for Japanese right-back. Skinned by trickery of both Targett and Saint-Maximin, while also beaten to one crunching tackle in middle of park by Joelinton before limping off injured before half-time. EPA

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  Gabriel - 5: Up against tricky customer in Wilson who made it a difficult night for Brazilian. Was second defender sacrificed for attacker as Gunners chased game. PA

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  Ben White - 4: Picked up very early booking for taking down Wilson and gifted ball to Guimaraes soon after trying to play out from back. Turned ball into own net in second half under pressure from Wilson and caught out of position ahead of second. Didn’t look fit. Getty

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  Nuno Tavares - 5: Back in side at left-back and facing a pacy opponent in Almiron. Did OK but was his foul throw that started move for White’s own goal. Sacrificed for attacker as Gunners chased game. EPA

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  Granit Xhaka - 4: Lovely turn and surging run forward from own half after five minutes but failed to help team get grip on centre of midfield and was outclassed by likes of Joelinton and Guimaeres. Inevitable late booking. EPA

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  Mohamed Elneny - 4: Not given any time to settle on ball as Newcastle pressured the Gunners superbly well. Couldn't stop Joelinton putting in cross for opening goal. PA.

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  Martin Odegaard - 5: Played nice first-time through ball to Saka that set up chance for teammate but couldn’t get any sort of grip on midfield. When he did find space to shoot after break Newcastle bodies were throwing themselves in front to block. Reuters

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  Bukayo Saka - 6: Lovely one-two with Odegaard before seeing shot blocked in first half, then drilled another effort straight at Dubravka soon after. Blazed wild strike way over from distance soon after Newcastle took the lead. PA

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  Emile Smith Rowe - 4: Recalled into side but struggled to make any impact on game and was no surprise when hooked early in second half. AFP

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  Eddie Nketiah - 4: Has scored some goals lately but never looked like doing so here. Booked early in second for aerial challenge on Schar that resulted in Swiss defender being helped from field. Getty

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  SUBS: Cedric Soares – (On for Tomiyasu 40’) 5: Early call into action due to latest Arsenal defensive injury. Like Tomiyasu, struggled to deal with Saint-Maximin. Reuters

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  Gabriel Martinelli – (On for Smith Rowe 53’) 6: At least offered Gunners a bit of an attacking outlet. Reuters

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  Alexandre Lacazette – (On for Tavares 62’) 5: Picked up nasty cut on back of head minutes after coming on and couldn’t make experience count at St James’ Park. Getty

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  Nicolas Pepe – (On for Gabriel 73’) 4: Awful pass straight to Newcastle began counter-attack that should have resulted in Newcastle going two up. AFP

Arsenal's hopes of securing a top-four spot in the Premier League took a hammer blow after they were beaten 2-0 by Newcastle United on Monday.

The Gunners needed to win at St James' Park to move back in front of Tottenham Hotspur in the table but instead fell to a defeat that leaves them two points behind their North London rivals with one game left.

Newcastle dominated from start to finish and the only surprise was that it took until the 55th minute before they took the lead. Allan Saint-Maximin sent Joelinton away down the left wing and the Brazilian sent in a superb low cross that Ben White turned into his own net.

With Arsenal throwing everything into attack leaving spaces at the back, a second goal seemed inevitable and it was Brazilian midfielder Bruno Guimaraes who grabbed it five minutes from time, finishing well after Aaron Ramsdale had blocked Callum Wilson's run into the box.

Substitutes Jacob Murphy and Ryan Fraser could also both have scored after coming on, while striker Wilson was a constant menace in his first start this year, going close on several occasions.

The result, which confirmed Chelsea will finish third, means Arsenal must beat Everton in their final game of the season on Sunday and hope Spurs lose at relegated Norwich.

Newcastle, who are 12th in the table, take on relegation-threatened Burnley at Turf Moor in their final match.

You can see the player ratings from the match at St James' Park in the gallery above. To move on to the next photo, click on the arrows or if using a mobile device, simply swipe.