AFCON 2025
Arsenal defeated Newcastle 1-0 at the Emirates to confirm a second-place finish behind leaders Liverpool.
A winning afternoon in N5 🙌 pic.twitter.com/SZJUMV4OiK
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) May 18, 2025
Gunners keeper David Raya was given an early scare when his pass was intercepted, and he needed to be alert to keep out Bruno Guimarães’ effort from close range.
Raya was the busier of the two goalkeepers in the first half, as he crucially tipped Harvey Barnes’ strike past the post, before saving Dan Burn’s point-blank header from Sandro Tonali’s resulting corner.
After an underwhelming first half, the Gunners started the second well and found themselves ahead through the returning Declan Rice. It was a wonderful first-time strike into the bottom corner after Martin Ødegaard found him on the edge of the box.
Newcastle pushed for an equaliser but Arteta’s men held firm to secure a crucial victory and guarantee a second-place finish for the third season in a row.
