KEY POINTS

  • Newcastle United defeated Arsenal 2-0 Monday
  • Arsenal's center-back Ben White scored an own goal 
  • Arsenal are currently fifth in the table

Arsenal do not deserve to qualify for the UEFA Champions League on the basis of their performance in their latest 2-0 loss in the Premier League, according to former captain Granit Xhaka.

A victory on Monday at St. James' Park would have seen Arsenal move into fourth place in the 2021-22 Premier League table. However, Newcastle United were a better team as they defeated the visitors 2-0 and ruined their chances of Champions League soccer for next season.

The Emirate side is two points behind fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur as both sides have just a game left in the 2021-22 season.

"We wanted to have a big game but it didn't happen. People speak always about leaders. We're not playing tennis, we're playing football. If someone is not ready for this pressure, stay at home. You can't come here and play like this. We looked very bad today. The game plan was totally different. We played a totally different game. They were running us over from the first minute to the 96th. When you play like this, you don't deserve to play in the Champions League," Xhaka told BBC Sport.

The Swiss midfielder went on to add that "If you can't handle the pressure, it ends like today. It looks like we can't do something against the pressure."

Just one team – Liverpool (25) – has won more points at home in the Premier League this year than Newcastle United (22), according to Opta Joe.

After a goalless first half, Arsenal's center-back Ben White netted a 55th-minute own goal to put the home side 1-0 up. Brazilian midfielder Bruno Guimaraes added a second goal later on to hand Newcastle their 12th victory of the season.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta lambasted his side's performance at Newcastle
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta lambasted his side's performance at Newcastle AFP / Oli SCARFF

The defeat to Newcastle means Arsenal must beat Everton on the final day of the 2021-22 Premier League and hope Tottenham, who are two points ahead and with a much superior goal difference, lose to relegated Norwich City.

"If Tottenham lose and we win, you never know in football. We have to hope. Before the game, everything was in our hands. It's a totally different game now," added Xhaka.

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