Newcastle make a change as Anita comes on for Cabaye.

Oxlade-Chamberlain spots the run of Walcott with a clever pass, but Harper is there quickly off his line to claim the ball.

Arsenal bossing possession now. They look far more confident than they did in the first half.

A sigh of relief from Wenger on the touchline. Arsenal have that all-important goal. What can Newcastle do now though?

Walcott picks out the run of Podolski in the box. The German wins the flick-on before Koscielny gets the vital touch to divert the ball past Harper from close-range. Really poor defending from Newcastle there.

GOAL FOR ARSENAL. KOSCIELNY.

Arsenal win a free-kick in a dangerous position following a foul on Sagna by Cabaye.

Arsenal probing and probing but still cannot find a way past this Newcastle defence as Taylor heads clear a Ramsey cross into the box.

Rosicky picks out of the run of Walcott with a fine ball over the top but the winger's touch lets him down allowing Yanga-Mbiwa to recover and make the challenge.

Arsenal passing it around patiently as Rosicky soon tries to forces his way through the Newcastle lines before being dispossessed.

Arsenal need to show a lot more urgency in this second half. They don't seem to be playing like their Champions League hopes depend on the outcome of the game.

Harper makes a hash of a clearance but soon makes up for it with a fine fingertip save to deny Walcott, whose shot was destined for the bottom corner.

Arsenal get this second half underway...

The two sides are re-emerging from the tunnel...

Chelsea and Tottenham are still drawing in their respective games which means that Arsenal remain in fourth spot, two points behind the Blues and one point ahead of Spurs.

And there goes the half-time whistle. Newcastle started the brighter but Arsenal have clawed themselves back into it. Pretty even overall, although a goal does not look too likely at the moment.

Two minutes of injury time to be played...

Walcott nearly picks out Podolski at the far post from the resulting free-kick but the German is unable to bring the ball down under control. Newcastle were half asleep there.

Ramsey is brought down by Tiote. Free-kick in a dangerous position for Arsenal...

Arsenal still having great trouble opening up this Newcastle defence. They have been very solid today.

Oxlade-Chamberlain starting to get onto the ball more and more now. He hangs in a dangerous delivery that nearly causes Debuchy a problem but Newcastle soon get it clear.

Arsenal win a corner. Cazorla sends it into the box but it falls straight to Harper.

Wenger is looking very nervy on the touchline. He knows just how important this game is to his side.

Newcastle instantly attack down the other end of the pitch through Ben Arfa. He cuts inside from the right before rifling in an effort at goal but sends it just over. This game is starting to get lively.

Podolski latches onto a through ball from Walcott. He fails to beat Harper but the striker was offside anyway.

Rosicky goes into the book for a late challenge.

Newcastle with 51% of the possession so far to Arsenal's 49%.

Ben Arfa does brilliantly to see off three Arsenal players before eventually running into a brick wall. Cabaye picks up the ball and shoots from distance but Szczesny always had it covered.

Wenger is not happy with some of the Newcastle challenges today. He is up on his feet after a foul from Cabaye on Podolski.

Cabaye sends the corner into the box but Sagna is there to head clear. Arsenal look to counter but Walcott is unable to latch onto the long ball forward.

Top work from Yanga-Mbiwa, who wins the corner off Sagna. Real persistence from the full-back.

Arsenal seeing a lot more of the ball now. Rosicky and Cazorla are beginning to influence proceedings.

Tottenham v Sunderland is still 0-0, if you were wondering.

Gibbs in plenty of space down the left for Arsenal. The full-back cuts inside before teeing the ball off to Cazorla but the Spaniard sends his strike well over the bar. He should have really hit the target.

Rosicky drives forward for Arsenal and plays the ball into Oxlade-Chamberlain but his first touch is very poor and it runs out for a goal kick.

It looks as though it is a like-for-like swap with Oxlade-Chamberlain playing in the middle for Arsenal.

Arsenal being forced into an early change as Oxlade-Chamberlain comes on for the injured Arteta.

Cabaye sends in the corner but Podolski is there to clear the ball to safety.

Superb work from Cisse who beats Mertesacker with ease and bursts into the box but Arteta is there to clear the ball off for a corner.

Koscielny heads clear a Yanga-Mbiwa cross with Cisse ready to pounce. He has not put a foot wrong so far, the Frenchman.

Walcott picks out the run of Mertesacker whose header deflects off Coloccini and falls just wide of the goal. Newcastle were lucky there.

Podolski is brought down by Ben Arfa. Free-kick in a dangerous position for Arsenal.

Newcastle have looked pretty solid at the back so far. Arsenal having little luck trying to penetrate the home team's defence.

Gutierrez is booked for pulling back Walcott with Arsenal looking to break from a Newcastle corner.

Rosicky slides by three Newcastle players with ease but his pass to Walcott out wide is intercepted. He has looked very impressive when on the ball so far.

Still it is Newcastle dictating most of the play. Arsenal will want to be seeing far more of the ball than they are currently.

Cabaye sends in a free-kick into the Arsenal box but play is stopped for a foul on Gibbs by Taylor.

Gutierrez picks up the ball in space and decides to have a go at goal from distance. His effort deflects off Cisse and for a second nearly catches out Szczesny, but the 'keeper is able to make the save.

Cazorla plays in Gibbs down the left who swings in a decent ball into the box but Taylor is there to make an important clearance.

Everton have drawn level with Chelsea. Steven Naismith with the equaliser.

A really good spell for Newcastle this. They are giving Arsenal plenty to think about at the back and playing the ball around intelligently.

Gouffran causing Arsenal plenty of problems at the moment. He skins Sagna down the left before taking aim at goal, however, his effort is poor and was never troubling Szczesny.

Koscielny in action for Arsenal down the other end. Gouffran does well to latch onto a ball over the top before firing it across the box, but the defender is there to make a vital interception, with Cisse waiting to pounce.

Cazorla sends a dangerous corner into the box. He picks out the run of Koscielny but the defender can only head wide of the target. A real chance for the Gunners.

Excellent play from Ramsey down the left. He wins a corner off Tiote when it looked like he had all bust lost the ball.

Chelsea are 1-0 up against Everton. Juan Mata opening the scoring for the Blues.

Rosicky does well to get an early cross into the box from the left for Arsenal but it just manages to elude Podolski who was waiting in the middle.

Newcastle get forward again, this time down the right. Debuchy gets to the byline before crossing it into the middle but it just fails to find Cisse. Good spell this from the home side.

A lovely run from Yanga-Mbiwa who gets to the byline before pulling it back to Cisse in the middle. The striker smashes it goalbound but it sails just over. Unlucky.

Cazorla sends in the free-kick. Coloccini heads it clear but only as far as Walcott on the edge of the box, who takes a touch before firing his strike well over the bar.

A lovely turn of pace from Rosicky as he is brought down by Tiote. Free-kick in a decent position for the Gunners. A chance to get some bodies in the box.

Walcott tries to burst forward down the right for Arsenal but Coloccini is on hand to put in an excellent challenge, bringing the attack to an end.

Considering Arsenal have the more to play for today, they are looking by far the less nervy of the two sides.

Arsenal starting to calm things down and passing the ball around nicely.

A fairly scrappy first few exchanges. The ball is flying all over the place at the moment.

Newcastle get this first half underway...

The teams are on their way out of the tunnel. We are just moments away from kick-off...

Arsenal have scored 13 goals in their last four last-day matches - an average of 3.25 per game.

Newcastle have gone ten final-day games without a victory. Their last win came in 2001 as they defeated Aston Villa 3-0.

Theo Walcott scored a hat-trick in a 7-3 Arsenal win at the Emirates Stadium earlier in the season, while it was 0-0 at St James' Park last term with Gervinho being sent off for slapping Joey Barton.

There is also the chance that Arsenal and Chelsea could end up with identical records in the league table. If Chelsea draw 0-0 against Everton and Arsenal win 2-1, a play-off will take place between the two at Villa Park on May 26 to decide who will automatically reach the Champions League group stage next season. So all to play for then.

Arsenal are still very much in the hunt for a Champions League spot, however. A win at St James' Park will be enough to pip rivals Tottenham, while a draw or a defeat will leave them sweating on Spurs' result at home to Sunderland.

Newcastle secured their Premier League status for next term after Wigan failed to pick up any points against Arsenal on Tuesday.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, meanwhile, fields an unchanged side following the victory against Wigan. Midfielder Mikel Arteta has shaken off a calf problem as the Gunners look to secure Champions League football for next season.

Steve Harper is handed the captain's armband for Newcastle as he makes his 199th and final appearance for the club. The 38-year-old is in the starting line-up with Rob Elliot suspended and Tim Krul injured. Alan Pardew makes one more change to the side which won 2-1 at QPR last weekend with Steven Taylor returning from illness in place of Mike Williamson.

Arsenal subs: Fabianski, Vermaelen, Monreal, Wilshere, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Gervinho, Giroud.

Newcastle subs: Alnwick, Simpson, Anita, Perch, Marveaux, Obertan, Campbell.

Arsenal team: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs, Arteta, Ramsey, Rosicky, Cazorla, Walcott, Podolski.

Newcastle team: Harper, Debuchy, S.Taylor, Coloccini, Yanga-Mbiwa, Tiote, Cabaye, Gutierrez, Ben Arfa, Cisse, Gouffran.

Join us for live commentary of Newcastle v Arsenal from 3:45pm BST.