Premier League

AN Emirates afternoon where both sides dreamed of having Alexander Isak at their disposal.For Newcastle, a groin injury robbed Eddie Howe of starting his beloved No.9 in North London – and it ultimately cost them, setting up a tense final-day Champions League shoot out.Declan Rice bags Arsenal’s winnerCredit: AFPThe England midfielder celebrates his 55th minute strikeCredit: GettyAnd for Arsenal, Swedish superstar Isak is a striker they would love to prise away from Tyneside this summer – if they are prepared to break the bank for him with an offer in excess of £100m.There is a hefty transfer kitty to play with, especially after Declan Rice’s 55th-minute long-range stunner guaranteed the Gunners a third-successive top two Prem spot, as well as a place in Europe’s elite competition next term.Striker Kai Havertz came on in the 76th minute to end his three-month injury exile after hamstring surgery, but boss Mikel Arteta knows he is not the answer. Isak would be, albeit one who will not let go cheaply nor quietly.And there is a reason for that: he is a world class goal-getter at the very highest level, and he would have surely put away the numerous chances the Toon had to see off Arsenal in a dominant first-half display.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThe nerves will now be jangling this weekend in a top-five race that promises to provide non-stop shocks, twists and turns.For Newcastle, they just need to beat Everton to return to the continental promised – but it could, and perhaps should, have been so much more comfortable.Callum Wilson stepped up to start up top for just his third match of a campaign dogged by hamstring issues, and only his second Prem start – the last coming in February.As for Arsenal, the presence of Havertz on the bench was a relief – if not too little too late – while Leandro Trossard led the line with Mikel Merino suspended.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSDoing a job on Arsenal has been a trademark of Newcastle’s last few seasons. This term is no different, beating them three times with an aggregate scoreline of 5-0 before this one.They were in the mood to make it a salt-in-the-wounds quadruple against a team they simply love to hate and love to beat.Arsenal reveal new home kit for 2025/26 season with major change to badge and eye-watering priceArsenal looked leggy and lethargic, and Newcastle were making them run, and forcing David Raya into a number of top stops. Without the Spaniard, the hosts would have been a few goals down inside the opening 20 minutes, and that is being kind.Raya’s poor pass out the back into no-man’s land was plucked by Sandro Tonali and Wilson was picked out before back-heeling into the path of Bruno Guimaraes in the box.The Brazilian did not catch it with his usual smoothness but still troubled Raya with some stinging palms. Myles Lewis-Skelly scrambled clear in the six-yard box.Howe had opted for a three-man defence in their Carabao Cup semi-final second leg clash against Arsenal back in February and it worked a treat, winning 2-0 at St James’ Park.The same trick, same outcome, but one that was enforced with injuries to Kieran Trippier and Lewis Hall while Sven Botman was able to shake off a knee injury scare.Arteta’s boys were struggling to contain the lightning counter attacks. Forget the Red Arrows – the Black Magpies were frenzied and relentless.Tino Livramento combined with Anthony Gordon down the left and the full-back tested the reflexes of Raya once more.Fearing another painful day at the hands of the Toon, Arsenal attempted to shock themselves into life. Trossard dropped his shoulder on Jacob Murphy and Harvey Barnes and let fly with a deflected effort.From the resulting corner, a routine from the Nicolas Jover playbook brought out the best of Nick Pope, his gigantic right arm denying Thomas Partey a near-post header.Mikel Arteta’s side have sealed a Champions League spotCredit: APEddie Howe’s side spurned several chancesCredit: ReutersBut this is a proper Newcastle team Howe has put together, and they no longer crumble on the road when the going gets tough, even if their last Prem away win was on April 7.Barnes glided through a non-existent Arsenal midfield and watched his low effort nick off Partey’s heel and then Raya’s fingertips just wide. Howe put his hands to his face.Frustrations grew with every missed chance, and a missed opportunity to really stick the knife into a below-par Gunners.Raya came to the rescue again with a magnificent double save with his hands and feet. Six-foot monsters Dan Burn and then Botman thought they had nicked one.Arsenal needed a half-time revving up. What they did not need was a defensive shake-up. William Saliba remained in the dressing room with Riccardo Calafiori coming on in his place.The Italian left-back’s presence alongside second-choice Jakub Kiwior in central defence could have been a recipe for disaster, albeit a tasty one for Newcastle’s front line.It felt like a mismatch all over the pitch at times. Guimaraes and Tonali were swarming all over Partey and Rice. Gordon was giving Ben White a real tough afternoon.Instead, Howe’s boys faded after the break, even with Arsenal there for the taking. Regardless, Howe will be livid with Rice’s beauty of a curled effort into the far corner.Callum Wilson had to step in for Alexander IsakCredit: GettyGordon will be receiving a right rollocking in the analysis room. It was the England winger’s dawdling on the ball that invited Bukayo Saka to snatch possession and feed Martin Odegaard down the right.From there, it looked like a training ground move. The cut-back and then the finish.Howe had limited options off the bench, reacting by bringing on 21-year-old William Osula for Wilson, while another sub Emil Krafth was booked within seconds of coming on for hauling down Martinelli – a foul that had Arteta sprinting up the touchline.Read More on The SunOf course, this would not be an Arsenal vs Newcastle match without some late drama – a VAR check following some fisty-cups in the box following a Toon onslaught.But Arsenal’s job is now done. Newcastle have one more mountain to climb. More

MIKEL ARTETA will miss Arsenal’s final game of the season after picking up a touchline ban.The Spaniard picked up a yellow card against Newcastle after kicking the ball away late on.Mikel Arteta has been suspended for Arsenal’s final game of the seasonCredit: GettyIt was his third of the current campaign.And as a result, Arteta has now picked up a one-match suspension.It means he will not be present when Arsenal take on relegated Southampton on the final day of the Premier League.Assistant Albert Stuivenberg is likely to take charge in Arteta’s absence.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLBut the Arsenal boss won’t mind too much after his side all-but-sealed a second-place finish.A super strike from Declan Rice saw the Gunners beat Newcastle to the runners-up spot while also cementing a place in next season’s Champions League.Arsenal could now lose their final match to Southampton.But they will still be present in Europe’s elite competition as Newcastle, Chelsea, Aston Villa, Man City and Nottingham Forest scramble for the three remaining spots.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERSArsenal will be eager to make amends for an underwhelming season, having fallen short in the title race once again.The door looked open for them to finally triumph after Man City fell off the pace.Arsenal reveal new home kit for 2025/26 season with major change to badge and eye-watering priceBut it was Liverpool who capitalised as Arne Slot sealed title victory in his first season.Arsenal did enjoy a good run in the Champions League though, reaching the semi-finals.However, the Gunners crashed out to Paris Saint-Germain as they missed out on a place in the final against Inter Milan. More

HARRY WILSON returned to haunt Brentford yet again and cap a spectacular turnaround in a feisty West London derby.Wilson scored a sensational winner from outside the box only four minutes after coming on as a sub.Fulham ace Harry Wilson sealed the three points against Brentford with a screamerAnd it came just 60 seconds after club captain Tom Cairney had pulled the visitors level in what could become a fitting farewell before he leaves at the end of the season.In addition to five goals and a saved penalty, there were also moans and drones as Fulham boss Marco Silva lost the plot in the first half.And a low flying drone which appeared over the roof of the away end also delayed the start of the second half.Brentford will be kicking themselves for chucking away their hard earned lead with defeat landing a major blow on their already outside hopes of playing European football next season.Read More on FootballThey remain eighth but need a complex combination of events involving Newcastle, Chelsea and the Conference League final to combine for them to qualify.And they could be caught by Brighton who are level on points with them.Wilson’s stunning winner was the last word in a gripping game between two neighbours.The Wales wideman scored twice in second half added time at Craven Cottage back in November when Fulham turned a losing position into a winning one.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSWilson also had his contract extended by a year last week along with Raul Jimenez who got things under way with a powerful 16th minute header to put the visitors ahead.Brentford then levelled six minutes later from a classy finish by Bryan Mbeumo then took the lead through Yoane Wissa three minutes before half time.In between, ref Jarred Gillett – who let Crystal Palace keeper Dean Henderson off the hook as VAR in yesterday’s (SAT) FA Cup Final – gave the home team a penalty.Silva was furious with the decision but seemed to have the particular hump with a Brentford security guard standing behind his dugout.The earpiece-wearing official was moved further away. But Silva lost his cool again when Bernd Leno saved Mbeumo’s spot kick. He was also angry at several of the ref’s decisions.Cairney was introduced after the break and headed home Kenny Tete’s deflected cross 68 minutes into a crazy match.The Scottish veteran, 34, is out of contract at the end of the season and has been linked with a £50K a week move to Championship newcomers Wrexham.Fulham’s breathless victory means they have set a new record of 54 Premier League points in one season, beating the previous high of 53 under Roy Hodgson set in 2009. More

SO, WILL IT be glamour visits to the San Siro or Nou Camp or long, winding trips to Azerbaijan and the Faroe Islands for Nottingham Forest next season?For the first time since March 1996, the club will contest European football but it remains to be seen if it will be in the Champions League, Europa League or the Europa Conference League.Nottingham Forest took their Champions League hopes to the wire with a 2-1 win at West HamCredit: ReutersPlayers paid tribute to Taiwo Awoniyi after his injury woesCredit: GettyEntrance into all three competitions is on the table thanks to this victory over West Ham as Forest captain Morgan Gibbs-White benefited from a first-half Alphonse Areola howler and Nikola Milenkovic’s second survived a lengthy VAR check.Dreams of playing Inter Milan or Barcelona in money-spinning ties is a wonderful possibility but the seventh-placed side HAVE to beat Chelsea next Sunday at the City Ground and then hope someone else slips up.It will be quite the bunfight – the only thing of unresolved interest on the final afternoon – and boss Nuno Espirito Santo must pray Forest’s miraculous season ends with Champions League qualification secured.And there will be an anxious wait over the recovery of centre-half Murillo, who played the entire second half despite an ankle knock late in the first 45 minutes.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThis contest started in fast and frenetic fashion – and both sides could have celebrated goals inside the opening 10 minutes.Less than 120 seconds had elapsed when Vladimir Coufal, who is departing East London this summer, provided an excellent cross for compatriot Tomas Soucek.And the towering Czech midfielder – who is subject of interest from Everton’s David Moyes – drew an exceptional one-handed save off Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels.It was one of the best saves of the year and emphasised why Sels deserves such plaudits.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERSAt the other end, the East Midlanders went close through Gibbs-White and Chris Wood, who normally scores against claret-and-blue opposition, but both attempts were well blocked by Alphonse Areola.The Frenchman was chosen in goal ahead of Lukasz Fabianski, one of four players leaving the club next month when their contracts expire.Taiwo Awoniyi health update with Nottingham Forest star recovering in hospital after emergency abdominal surgeryPolish stopper Fabianski may have turned 40 last month but even at his advanced age, it is unlikely he would have been guilty of such a gaffe that Areola produced on 11 minutes.The short pass from Max Kilman was begging to be booted upfield but Areola unforgivably committed the cardinal sin of passing it directly to Gibbs-White.The England winger could scarcely believe his luck and his seventh goal of the season was probably the easiest one he will have the joy of finishing.Gibbs-White ran off to the corner flag and held up a Forest shirt with ‘9’ on the back – the number worn by forward Taiwo Awoniyi – to pay his respects to his stricken team-mate.Morgan Gibbs-White fired Forest ahead after 11 minutesCredit: ReutersThe goal saw Forest take control of the gameCredit: ReutersDuring the warm-up, Forest’s players all wore white T-shirts with a message on the front that said: “We’re all with you, Taiwo.”The Nigerian is recuperating in hospital having been placed into an induced coma following surgery to repair a serious abdominal injury when he collided into a post.The nature of that injury has led to a serious debate about the laws of the game given that the accident could have been avoided had he been flagged offside earlier.Yet the assistant referee followed the current guidelines and allowed play to continue before the incident occurred late on in the 2-2 draw with Leicester.They doubled their lead in the 61st minute after a lengthy VAR checkCredit: PANikola Milenkovic took credit for the strikeCredit: ReutersAn eerily similar situation occurred on 19 minutes here with Jarrod Bowen when the Hammers talisman smashed into one of the posts by mistake.A physio appeared to give him a concussion test and while the captain was permitted to carry on, albeit with a large lump of vaseline above his right eye, the scenes would have brought back awful memories for the travelling contingent.A post came to the savour of West Ham five minutes later as Wood saw his header bounce off the woodwork.Fans that booed off West Ham at half-time were on their feet to pay appreciation for popular full-back Aaron Cresswell who was subbed off and now leaves the club, 11 years after his debut under Sam Allardyce.Minutes after a quadruple substitution from the home side, however, Forest added a second when Milenkovic headed home from Anthony Elanga’s free-kick.Jarrod Bowen scored a consolation strike in the 86th minuteCredit: ReutersIt was too little, too late for the HammersCredit: AFPFor Elanga, it was record-equalling 11th top-flight assist, which draws him level with Bryan Roy’s Premier League club record of 11 from 1994-95.The 61st-minute goal was subject of a SIX-MINUTE VAR check for offside – Nicolas Dominguez’s foot was the issue – but referee Sam Barrott spoke to both managers because the semi-automated offside technology was “not available” according to ref chiefs.It was all very farcical but those Forest fans who had been singing “F*** VAR” were soon praising the tech as they celebrated a first league double over the Hammers since 1983-84.There was a nervy finale when Bowen scored an exceptional volley on 86 minutes and ensured Nuno’s heart would be beating faster, especially during the 11 MINUTES of stoppage-time.Forest held on, despite one of their coaching staff being booked for dissent, various yellow cards following a mass melee, and a crucial save by Sels from a powerful Niclas Fullkrug header in the 102ND-MINUTE to keep their Champions League hopes alive.Read More on The SunMany Hammers fans had decided to stay away, judging by the number of empty seats at the London Stadium.Few stayed on for the lap of appreciation – perhaps that should be a lap of depreciation? – but they will demand major upheaval and significant improvement next season from Graham Potter’s troops. 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TAIWO AWONIYI has posted on social media for the first time since coming out of his induced coma.The Nottingham Forest striker, 27, was forced to undergo an operation after suffering a worrying abdominal injury against Leicester last weekend.Taiwo Awoniyi has posted on social mediaCredit: AlamyAfter colliding with the post, Awoniyi was astonishingly allowed to continue before finally being taken off.The Nigerian went under the knife on Monday and was subsequently placed into an induced coma in order to regulate his heart rate and movement.Following successful surgery, Awoniyi is now out of his coma and recovering.Ahead of Forest’s clash with West Ham today, the popular striker posted on social media.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLHe wrote: “This season has been one of the most difficult of my career but through it all, I have felt the love.”With the grace of God, I am grateful to still be here, to still be fighting, to still be smiling, and to be in good spirits.”To my team-mates, coaches, staff and the entire Forest family, thank you for your well wishes, seeing you all on your visit to the hospital lifted my spirits more than words can say.”Wishing the boys the very best in these last two games, keep believing and keep pushing. I’m with you all the way and I can’t wait to be back out there with the boys doing what I love.Most read in Football”To my family, friends and football fans, thank you for the support, and to everyone back home in Nigeria who has checked in on me, prayed for me and left kind words, thank you. I see them. I feel them. And I carry them with me every day as I recover. Come on you Reds.”Awoniyi’s Instagram post received plenty of supportive comments.Taiwo Awoniyi health update with Nottingham Forest star recovering in hospital after emergency abdominal surgeryAmong them, Ademola Lookman wrote: “Speedy recovery bro.”Wilfred Ndidi, Neco Williams and Callum Hudson-Odoi all left heart emojis.Morgan Gibbs-White gave Forest a first-half lead at West Ham this afternoon.After doing so, the England midfielder rose an Awoniyi Forest shirt in solidarity with his injured team-mate.Morgan Gibbs-White raises an Awoniyi shirt after scoringCredit: PA More