Arsenal travelled to St James' Park on the final day of the season knowing that a win would guarantee them Champions League football.
The Gunners sat a point above North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League and could still finish in the top four should they have lost and their neighbours only managed a draw.
Arsene Wenger's side could still have finished third above Chelsea should results have worked in their favour, while Newcastle United, who have already secured their safety this season, had nothing to play for.
However, a 1-0 win was enough for Arsenal as they secured Champions League football and fourth place.
Read how it all unfolded in our live commentary below.
3.07pmHello and welcome to the final day of the Premier League season, with Sports Mole covering every game today.
3.08pmIf you're here, then I can tell you that you will be getting all the action from St James' Park, where Arsenal must Newcastle United to earn Champions League football.
3.09pmWhile Newcastle have nothing really to play for other than a bit of extra money (I'll come to that in a moment), Arsenal have a date with destiny this afternoon.
3.11pmIt's simple for Arsenal:
Win - Champions League football is theirs, whether they finish third or fourth.
Draw - They must hope that Spurs fail to beat Sunderland at White Hart Lane.
Lose - Again, they must hope that Spurs cannot beat Sunderland in order to guarantee themselves European football.
Win - Champions League football is theirs, whether they finish third or fourth.
Draw - They must hope that Spurs fail to beat Sunderland at White Hart Lane.
Lose - Again, they must hope that Spurs cannot beat Sunderland in order to guarantee themselves European football.
3.12pmWe have team news in for the match....
3.13pmNEWCASTLE XI: Harper, Debuchy, S.Taylor, Coloccini, Yanga-Mbiwa, Tiote, Cabaye, Gutierrez, Ben Arfa, Cisse, Gouffran
3.14pmSo as you can see, Steven Harper starts in goal for what is his final match for the Magpies. Hatem Ben Arfa also starts, while Alan Pardew has Papiss Cisse and Yoan Gouffran up top.
3.14pmIt is certainly a decent side that is for sure, with plenty of attacking threat.
3.16pmARSENAL XI: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs, Arteta, Ramsey, Rosicky, Cazorla, Walcott, Podolski
3.17pmThe big news from the Arsenal camp is that Wenger has Mikel Arteta available, after he was forced off against Wigan Athletic during the week, but he is in the starting lineup today. What a key player he is for the Gunners.
3.23pmOlivier Giroud, back from suspension, and Jack Wilshere both have to settle for a place among the substitutes.
3.26pmOne of the big stories going into this game is that Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley has reportedly offered the club's non-playing staff a £1m bonus if they can beat Arsenal today.
3.27pmWhile this has happened on one side of Tyneside, Sunderland boss Paolo Di Canio has told Arsenal that his side will look to try to beat Spurs after the Gunners secured the Black Cats' safety by relegating Wigan during the week.
3.30pmNEWCASTLE BENCH: Alnwick, Simpson, Anita, Perch, Marveaux, Obertan, Campbell
3.30pmARSENAL BENCH: Fabianski, Vermaelen, Monreal, Wilshere, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Gervinho, Giroud
3.31pmSo there are the two substitutes benches, and you must agree that Arsenal do have options off the pitch.
3.34pmStruggling to remember what happened when these two sides met earlier this season? Read Sports Mole's match report of the 10-goal thriller at the Emirates.
3.35pmHere is a video of that match if you can't remember it.
3.36pmHowever, Arsenal haven't won at St James' Park since 2009, enduring a goalless match in Newcastle last season, before this happened the year before...
3.42pmThis isn't the first time that the North London clubs have had it all to play for on the final day of the season. This time last year, Arsenal had to beat West Bromwich Albion at the Hawthorns to secured third, while Spurs missed out on fourth due to sixth-placed Chelsea winning the Champions League.
3.42pmAs a matter of fact, Newcastle still had a chance of finishing in the top four last year, however they don't have much to fight for today.
3.50pmOne thing is for sure, there will be a lot of nerves doing the rounds today.
3.50pm10 minutes to go!
3.52pmSTAT Newcastle have won just one of their last 11 Premier League games against Arsenal (W1, D5, L5).
3.53pmSTAT However, four of the last five league meetings at St James's Park have been draws, with Arsenal winning the other, which bodes well for the Gunners today.
3.55pmWhile there is so much else going on around the country, Arsenal fans, your best bet is to just concentrate on my coverage here if you want to avoid shortening your life expectancy.
3.56pmBoth sides are in the tunnel, Harper captains Newcastle after 20 years at the club, while Arteta dons the armband for Arsenal.
3.57pmREF WATCH Howard Webb is the man in the middle for the match today.
3.57pmThe teams are out! What drama we could be in for today.
3.58pmA key point could be that Newcastle have centre-back Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa at left-back, who will be up against an in-form Theo Walcott. Watch this battle.
4pmWhere has this season gone? Honestly, I can't remember one going so fast. I must be getting on a bit!
4.01pmJust to let you know, Spurs and Sunderland are already underway.
4.01pmNewcastle will have kick off and shoot from left to right in their black and white stripes. Arsenal are sporting red shirts, white shorts and white socks.
0 minWE'RE OFF!
2 minNo chances yet but a lot of early possession for Arsenal.
4 minA lot of early noise from the Arsenal fans, they will need to be right behind their side today.
5 minArsenal have a free kick on the left midway through the Newcastle half after Tiote chops down Rosicky. Cazorla is over this and Mertesacker and Koscielny are forward.
6 minCHANCE! The free kick is nodded out to the edge of the box by Coloccini. It drops to Walcott who brings the ball down before dipping a half-volley just over the bar.
7 minSCORE UPDATE: Chelsea 1-0 Everton
7 minCHANCE! The home side have an opportunity as Yanga-Mbiwa drives down the left, leaving Mertesacker for dust on the flank, before putting in a low cross towards Cisse. He takes a touch and hits a shot on the spin but it flies just over.
10 minNo goals yet either here or at White Hart Lane.
11 minNice play from Aaron Ramsey down the right for Arsenal. He keeps hold of the ball up against two men to win a corner.
12 minCHANCE! Cazorla cops the ball into the near post towards Koscielny, the Frenchman gets a little glance on it but it rolls just past the far post.
13 minMertesacker, who has been lethal at the near post from corners in recent matches for Arsenal, had two men on him there. He wasn't happy.
13 minExcitement creeps around the stadium as Papiss Cisse looks set to tap the ball in for the opener after a low cross from the right. However, Koscielny is in there to make the block, and wins a free kick in the process. Gouffran then dragged a weak shot across the face of goal.
14 minSCORE UPDATE: Chelsea 1-1 Everton
17 minGutierrez has a pop from distance, but the sting of the shot is taken out of it by Cisse, as the ball makes its way through to Szczesny.
18 minSagna catches Gutierrez late, who is in some pain, in a 50/50 shoulder tussle and gives Newcastle a free kick which they will look to rocket into the box.
19 minCabaye whips the ball in but Newcastle concede the free kick after Gibbs, who cleared the ball, was climbed over by Taylor.
21 minNewcastle win a corner after Koscielny slides in on Gouffran. Great tackle, but a chance for the hosts now.
22 minYELLOW CARD! Gutierrez is booked for pulling the shirt of Walcott, who had left him for dead during a counter-attack from the corner. I think that is what they call a professional foul.
24 minArsenal have a free kick on the left, which both centre-backs are jogging forward for, after Ben Arfa jumped in on Podolski.
25 minCHANCE! Walcott whips the ball into towards the penalty spot where Mertesacker gets a flick on. The goal kick is awarded after the ball went wide of goal, although replays show that Coloccini got the final touch.
26 minIt really is tense here...
26 minArteta looks as if he has pulled up. Surely that must spell the end of his match and season. Wilshere will surely come on.
27 minNewcastle win a corner as Cisse cannons a cross off Arteta. It's Chamberlain who is going to come on in a moment.
28 minARSENAL CHANGE Arteta is coming off, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain the man to come on. You can assume that Cazorla will move into the middle with the Ox out wide. Wilshere clearly isn't fit enough.
29 minAt the moment though Chamberlain, who is touted to play centrally eventually in his career, is in the middle.
29 minMertesacker has taken the armband from Arteta by the way.
31 minCHANCE! What a waste from Cazorla. Kieran Gibbs does ever so well down the left as he bombs forward before cutting it back to the Spaniard on the edge of the box. Cazorla tries to curl it into the far corner but gets it all wrong and sends it over.
34 minNewcastle have a nice spell of possession on the edge of the Arsenal box, and win a corner after Gouffran knocks the ball off Sagna.
35 minThe corner comes to nothing, and Arsenal are nearly in at the other end. Cazorla sprays a huge quarterback-like pass forward towards Walcott, but the England international just misses the control. Certainly a lot of pace on the break for the Gunners.
36 minIt's still goalless at White Hart Lane in the match between these two sides' rivals.
37 minCabaye has a bouncing effort from range, but it is easily into the chest of Szczesny.
38 minA minutes applause rings around St James' Park in the last game of Steve Harper's Newcastle career. The number 37 applauds the crowd.
39 minYELLOW CARD! Tomas Rosicky goes into the book after an earlier lunge at Ben Arfa.
40 minCHANCE! Ben Arfa is causing all sorts of problems for Arsenal down the right. He cuts inside, beats two men on his way into the box, but curls his shot over the bar.
41 minArsenal are in a bit of a lull here. They need to get going. From the sounds of it, Spurs are all over Sunderland in North London.
42 minThey have a chance from a corner now though as Perch heads over his own bar.
42 minEasy catch for Harper, who gets a ton of cheers from the home fans.
45 minFree kick for Arsenal in an advanced crossing position. Tiote is deemed guilty of bringing down Ramsey, although replays show that the Welshman slipped. Newcastle fans chant "Cheat!" as he gets to his feet.
45 minTwo minutes to go.
45+1 minThe free kick was kept in play by Podolski, before Sagna was tackled. Resulting in a Newcastle goal kick.
45+2 minIt's half time in both the other games that affect this fixture.
45+2 minHALF TIME: Newcastle United 0-0 Arsenal
4.49pmNo goals at the end of a tense first half. Newcastle have had the better chances, Arsenal look nervous.
4.58pmIf you haven't done so already, why not vote for your team of the season while we wait for the players to return. The results will be revealed on Wednesday.
5.02pmArsenal are coming back out, they need more urgency.
5.03pmNewcastle are back out as well.
45 minARSENAL GET THE SECOND HALF UNDERWAY
46 minThe referees and his officials have changed their kit this half from yellow to green to avoid the hassle of green flies.
46 minCHANCE! Early chance for Arsenal as Walcott gets into the right side of the box, he shoots across goal but Harper gets a hand to it and Newcastle can clear away.
47 minAfter a brief period off the field, Tiote is now back in the action following a slight knock.
50 minSzczesny beats Debuchy in a sprint race to smother the ball and the chance.
51 minFree kick for Arsenal on the right, both centre-backs go forward once more.
51 minGOAL! Newcastle United 0-1 Arsenal (Laurent Koscielny)
52 minMASSIVE GOAL FOR ARSENAL! Walcott's cross is headed forward by Podolski and, right in front of Harper, Koscielny acrobatically turns the ball into the back of the net. As things stand, regardless of what happens elsewhere, Arsenal take fourth.
54 minNow we will see just how committed Newcastle are. Arsenal are far from comfortable just yet though. A long way to go.
55 minWalcott nearly comes close to getting on the end of a lovely pass, but Harper is out quick to snub the opportunity.
57 minNEWCASTLE CHANGE Yohan Cabaye goes off for Newcastle, he hasn't had the easiest season due to injury, and Vurnon Anita comes on.
58 minNewcastle have Arsenal under the cosh at the moment, the Gunners can't get rid of it.
59 minNewcastle boo their own man Debuchy, who puts the ball out after Cazorla was lying down injured. Unless it's a head injury, he shouldn't need to do that.
60 minArsenal give the ball back, and Cazorla hobbles back on to a chorus of boos.
60 minArsenal are really living dangerously at the moment. The nerves must be killing Gunners fans. Still, they lead here, and Spurs are being held at White Hart Lane. So far, so good for Arsene Wenger's men.
62 minArsenal have 28 minutes to hang on. I sense there are still twists and turns to come yet.
64 minHeart-in-mouth moment for Arsenal as Debuchy swings in a low cross to the edge of the six-yard box. Mertesacker and Gouffran both go down before Koscielny hacks clear.
65 minNEWCASTLE CHANGE Yoan Gouffran comes on for the Magpies' second substitution of the day, as Sylvain Marveaux.
67 minTiote is receiving a bit of treatment after getting a poke in the eye, as it looks, from Podolski. Accidental of course.
68 minCazorla wins a free kick after a late challenge from Yanga-Mbiwa. He did try to stay on his feet but went down on the edge of the D.
69 minPodolski and Walcott are over it, surely one of them will shoot.
69 minChamberlain gets over-excited and slams an effort over the bar after lovely play from Podolski. Ramsey was in a better place.
70 minNews is breaking at White Hart Lane that Newcastle are level....I can assure you Spurs fans, that Arsenal are in front still.
71 minCHANCE! Newcastle work the ball from the right into the centre, and Ben Arfa bangs a shot towards goal. It swerves away from Szczesny and out for a goal kick.
74 minThis must be horrible for Arsene Wenger, yes his side are winning and at this rate in the Champions League, but his heart rate must be beating like crazy.
75 minHow a second goal would ease the pressure for Arsenal.
75 minSunderland are down to 10 men at White Hart Lane after David Vaughan picked up his second yellow card.
76 minSCORE UPDATE: Chelsea 2-1 Everton.
77 minOlivier Giroud is about to come on for Arsenal, they need something at the moment.
77 minARSENAL CHANGE Lukas Podolski comes off, while Olivier Giroud returns from a three-match ban to play the final 13 minutes.
78 minArsenal need Giroud to hold it up for the team, they are on the ropes at the moment.
78 minNewcastle have a corner.
79 minKoscielny gets up and clears for Arsenal.
80 minCampbell about to come on for Newcastle. He is an 18-year-old striker for those who don't know much about the local lad.
80 minNEWCASTLE CHANGE Pardew is going for it. Yanga-Mbiwa is coming off and Adam Campbell is on. A left-back for a centre-forward.
81 minYELLOW CARD! Kieran Gibbs is booked for dissent after giving away a free kick on the right. To be fair, it looked as if he was being fouled. Big chance for Newcastle.
82 minArsenal counter from the free kick, as Walcott plays Chamberlain down the right. He looks to cross to an unmarked Cazorla, but the ball goes behind for a corner.
83 minCHANCE! The corner goes all the way through to Cazorla, who cuts inside and wraps his foot over the ball, but unfortunately for him, it curls wide.
84 minSix minutes to go, Arsenal are in the Champions League as things stand.
86 minNewcastle seeing a lot of the ball at the moment.
87 minPenalty appeals from the home fans as Debuchy goes down in the box, nothing given.
88 minArsenal try to keep the ball in the corner, but it's out for a goal kick.
89 minARSENAL CHANGE Jack Wilshere is coming on for the last couple of minutes in place of Cazorla.
90 minSCORE UPDATE: Spurs 1-0 Sunderland
90 minBale has just thumped in a wonder goal for Spurs, but Arsenal will still finish in the top four as things stand.
90 minFour minutes to be added on here, the longest four of many Arsenal fans' lives.
91 minOFF THE POST! Arsenal come inches from Champions League football as Walcott hits the inside of the post and Harper smothers the rebound. Crazy stuff.
93 minArsenal need to hang on. They have a free kick courtesy of an offside. Time to run the clock down.
94 min30 seconds left.
94 minCorner to Arsenal, all over at White Hart Lane.
95 minFULL TIME: Newcastle United 0-1 Arsenal
5.54pmARSENAL ARE IN THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE!
5.55pmRelief rings round St James' Park. Arsenal hold on, and take Champions League football courtesy of a Laurent Koscielny goal. Gareth Bale pushed them late, but Arsenal take fourth, and Spurs take Europa League football.
5.56pmThe Arsenal fans and players are absolutely delighted! They celebrate like mad in front of the away end. Where can they build from here?
5.58pmNervy, nervy stuff in the end but Arsenal hold on.
6.03pmArsenal fans, you can breathe once more.
6.18pmThat's it from me and that's it for this season. Make sure you stick with Sports Mole throughout the summer for all your sporting needs.
6.18pmThank you, and goodbye.
