Arsenal kept alive their hopes of finishing in the English Premier League top four with a 2-0 win over Manchester United at the Emirates this morning.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Two goals in three minutes from Granit Xhaka and Danny Welbeck finally handed Arsene Wenger the bragging rights over rival Jose Mourinho and ended United's 25-game unbeaten run.
Mourinho admitted this morning's defeat meant it would now be "impossible" for Manchester United to finish in the top four.
United remain four points adrift of fourth-placed Manchester City with three games remaining, including a trip to second-placed Tottenham Hotspur.
Mourinho said their cramped schedule, which includes a possible two further Europa League games, means they must win the tournament to qualify for next season's Champions League.
"It is impossible to finish in the top four. We must play Thursday (against Celta Vigo) and then we go again against Tottenham, but we cannot go with everything against Tottenham," the United manager said.
"Three days later we have Southampton, and then Crystal palace. Others will be playing once a week."
Mourinho said he was delighted with the performance of his players and said, under the burden of so many injuries and fixtures, he was surprised they managed to go 25 games unbeaten in the Premier League.
He said his task now was to continue to rotate his squad to ensure United win the Europa League. At the Emirates, Mourinho gave a Premier League debut to Axel Tuanzebe, saying he was delighted by the 19-year-old's performance.
Earlier, James Milner missed a penalty as Liverpool were held to a 0-0 home draw by Southampton in a blow to their hopes of finishing in the top four and securing a place in next season's Champions League.
Liverpool are third in the table on 70 points, a point clear of fourth-placed Manchester City, who have a game in hand.
Newcastle win Championship
Newcastle United sewed up the Championship title this morning, beating Barnsley 3-0 to finish above Brighton & Hove Albion and return to the Premier League with a bang on a frantic final day at both ends of England's second-tier.
Brighton finished second after drawing 1-1 at mid-table Aston Villa, while at the other end of the table Nottingham Forest pulled off a narrow escape as 1995 Premier League champions Blackburn Rovers were relegated.
Forest looked set for the drop after Blackburn took a 2-0 first-half lead at Brentford, but Britt Assombalonga scored a penalty to put the twice European champions back in the box seat.
Chris Cohen doubled Forest's lead after the interval and Assombalonga missed a second penalty, but made amends with a powerful shot from inside the area to give Forest a 3-0 victory that kept them up on goal difference.
Blackburn's 3-1 victory over Brentford could not prevent them from dropping into the third-tier next season, alongside already relegated Wigan Athletic and Rotherham United.
Goals from Ayoze Perez, Chancel Mbema and Dwight Gayle were enough to help Newcastle and manager Rafa Benitez finish a point above Brighton, whose hopes of winning the title were dashed at the death.
Glenn Murray put Brighton ahead from the penalty spot but Jack Grealish levelled for Villa in the 89th minute to break Brighton hearts.
Both Newcastle and Brighton had already secured promotion before today's action.
Birmingham, who were also in danger of relegation, held on for a narrow 1-0 win over Bristol City to stay up, two points clear of Forest and Blackburn.
- Reuters
