Top-flight status all but sealed as United shoot down Gunners in SJP sell-out

SAFETY VIRTUALLY SECURED WITH FIVE GAMES LEFT

run of nine games without a victory before Christmas to be safe from relegation with five matches to go.

Benitez added: “Obviously I am really pleased because it was important for us to achieve that, and the way that we did it, every single player, every fan, every member of the staff, I haver to congratulate them because it has been a fantastic achievement.

“We started learning without too much experience for some players in the Premier League, and little by little we were growing and especially in this second part of the league, the team has grown in confidence.

“We were so good in a lot of things that in the end, I think we deserve to be where we are.

“Some people were dreaming that maybe we could be here, but they were not awake.

“We were awake, we were believing from day one and we have achieved what we wanted.” NEWCASTLE United can consider themselves a Premier League side again next season thanks to a superb win over Arsenal.

The black and whites were more or less over the line before their game with the Gunners at St James’ Park, but they made top-flight status next term a virtual certainty after a hard-fought victory in the sunshine as a sell-out crowd roared them to three more points.

In achieving the win – played out in front of England and Toon legend Paul Gascoigne in the stands – Newcastle are currently in their best home form in the Premier League in half a decade.

Goals from Ayoze Perez and Matt Ritchie were celebrated wildly on Tyneside as Rafa Benitez’s side surpassed the 40-point mark but the home crowd knew their side had to dig deep.

Indeed, every block, tackle, header, and even throw-in was cheered loudly as Arsene Wenger’s side lost at St James’ for the first time since 2005.

The game opened up with both sides adopting a cautious approach at St James’ Park but there were glimpses of goal for each team.

First, Alexandre Lacazette sent a shot wide of Martin Dubravka’s right-hand post at the Gallowgate End, before Kenedy wound up and drilled a low effort straight into the arms of Petr Cech. However, Arsenal’s dangerous strike force showed exactly what they could do on 15 minutes.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang latched on to a long ball before hooking a cross to the back post before Lacazette swept it past Dubravka to score Arsenal’s 100th goal of the season in all competitions.

It was the first goal Newcastle have conceded at home since January 31 at St James’ Park since the 1-1 draw with Burnley.

Arsenal dominated the first 25 minutes of the game and enjoyed 70% of the possession, but they were left stunned just before the half-hour mark.

DeAndre Yedlin delivered a fine low cross to the front post and Ayoze Perez was on hand to sweep home and tie the game up.

Moments later, Perez got free down the left-hand side but his low cross was hacked clear by Alex Iwobi.

Then five minutes before the break, a throw-in on the right-hand side fell to Matt Ritchie and he unleashed a low shot straight into the arms of Cech.

Arsenal finished the half with some good chances but Calum Chambers headed over from a corner before a great opportunity for Joe Willock went horribly wrong right in front of goal.

The two sides went in level at the break thanks to Perez’s seventh goal of the campaign as the Spaniard kept up his late season form.

The Magpies made their first change of the afternoon when Islam Slimani replaced Gayle on 62 minutes.

Gayle worked hard but came off the field but did not register a shot at goal on a tough day in the frontline for the No 9.

With 66 minutes gone, Ritchie tried his luck with an ambitious shot but it was high and wide with Cech untroubled.

Arsenal responded on their next attack when Iwobi sent a shot wide but the ground erupted two minutes later.

Slimani won a header to pick out Perez who flicked the ball into the path of Ritchie who applied a crisp finish to fire Newcastle into the lead.

The home side could have extended their lead even further when Kenedy broke free down the left but his shot took a deflection and looped on to the crossbar with Cech flapping near his line.

Another Slimani contribution on 77 minutes resulted in the on-loan Leicester City man unselfishly picking out Perez but he directed the ball into the side-netting.

Newcastle replaced Perez with Joselu with 11 minutes to go and the former Tenerife forward enjoyed warm applause from all four sides of the stadium.

The final change of the day saw Ritchie come off for Jacob Murphy, but the Scotland winger managed to get in a great block to deny Iwobi just before he headed for the dugout.

United had to hold out for a nervous finish but by the end players and fans could celebrate survival with FIVE games to go.