Arsenal suffer major setback in pursuit of Champions League football as defeat to Newcastle puts race for fourth in Tottenham’s hands going into final day of the season

Arsenal handed the initiative back to Tottenham in the race for fourth as they suffered a damaging 2-0 defeat at Newcastle.

The nervous Gunners struggled to get a foothold at a raucous St James’ Park with Ben White’s own goal and Bruno Guimaraes’ late strike sealing their defeat.

The deadlock was broken on 55 minutes as White turned the ball into his own net in his attempts to prevent a cross from the left reaching Callum Wilson, who sustained a nasty tooth injury earlier in the match.

Mikel Arteta’s men improved after that without threatening Martin Dubravka’s goal too much and the win was sealed when Guimaraes latched onto a loose ball.

The result leaves Arsenal two points behind fourth-placed Tottenham going into the final day of the Premier League season.

Due to a superior goal difference, Spurs effectively only need a draw at last-placed Norwich to seal their return to the Champions League. The result also confirms Chelsea’s place in the top four.

On a night where Arsenal needed the three points, they simply didn’t perform with Eddie Howe’s side more than good value for their win.

The visitors did threaten first when Granit Xhaka raced upfield before feeding Eddie Nketiah, who cut inside from the left, but saw his right-foot shot blocked at source.

Wilson’s pace and the bite provided by Guimaraes and Joelinton in the middle of the field were making life difficult for…