Feel the positivity under Arteta after Rice's superb stunner steers Arsenal to the Champions League 

We are getting closer to getting what we want says Arsenal writer Nick Manfredi after a positive result at the Emirates 

If at first you don’t succeed, try again.

Three times, Arsenal have lost to Newcastle this season, but we finally got one over them at the fourth attempt.

Before the game I enjoyed a wonderful lunch with some of the chaps from Goonerholics forever and it whet the appetite for a tricky encounter with the Geordies.

And it was the away side who started the stronger. David Raya was forced into making a series of smart stops from Guimaraes, Harvey Barnes and Botman as Arsenal struggled to gain a foothold of proceedings.

There was a slightly nervous atmosphere around the Emirates. We still had a bit of work to do to secure our Champions League place for next season and for a while it looked as though our poor run against the Magpies was set to continue but thankfully, we upped the intensity after the break, and we began to turn the screw at last.

The goal we craved arrived ten minutes into the second half. Anthony Gordon was dispossessed by Saka on our right flank, and he worked the ball to Odegaard who drove down the wing and picked out Declan Rice just outside the area who curled home a peach into the bottom far corner. Get in!

What a season he’s had. That’s 19 goals and assists for the future England captain. Go back to West Ham and give them another £100million! “Declan Rice, we got him half price” rang round the Emirates. It’s not often £100 million is considered a bargain but in Rice’s case, bargain doesn’t do it justice.

The atmosphere was understandably much more relaxed now.

We nearly doubled our lead soon after as Ben White almost eclipsed Rice’s stunner with a fierce drive from about 25 yards, but his effort went narrowly wide with Nick Pope beaten.

We saw the game out without much fuss. Newcastle managed five efforts on target in the opening 20 minutes but failed to register any in the 70 that followed.

The whistle blew and a satisfactory cheer rang around N5.

Champions League football was secured and bar a dramatic goal difference swing, so is second place.

There was a positive atmosphere as the players did their customary lap of appreciation.

We are getting closer to getting what we want.

Feel the positivity around the Emirates and ignore the tripe from Sky Sports.

Mikel Arteta WILL get us there soon.