Top gum

Newcastle destroyed Arsenal's Champions League dreams with a fantastic two-goal victory at St. James' Park on Monday evening, bringing their home fixtures to the most memorable of conclusions.

An intense atmosphere inspired United to their best display under Eddie Howe; Callum Wilson's pressure breaking the deadlock before a late second from Bruno Guimaraes put Mikel Arteta's side out of their misery.

Making his first start since last December, United's number nine was in unstoppable form despite having dislodged one of his front teeth and split his lip midway through the opening half.

Wilson's run into the box to meet Joelinton's cross tempted visiting defender Ben White to stick his boot out, diverting the ball past his own 'keeper. Our top scorer then twice came close to extending his tally, volleying an inspired centre from Bruno over before a spectacular 40-yard effort was a whisker away.

On a night when the crowd fully lived up to their twelfth man status, the eleven players who started the game outclassed their opponents in every department - Jamaal Lascelles also giving a tremendous performance when called upon to replace concussion victim Fabian Schar.

Wilson led the way with typical guile and a turn of pace that raises hopes that he may have improved his durability not just his fitness - a willingness to get in where it hurts also dispelling fears that he was anything other than 100%.

Longstaff was at his most relaxed and confident for a long time while there were hints that Saint-Maximin was trying to curb his individual instincts, even tracking back after a fashion

Only one team ever looked likely to win, but given the prize Arsenal were playing for, it defies belief that they came up so short - even taking into account an injury list that lengthened during the game.

The home players still had to respond and they did that from the first whistle; captain Wilson leading the way, ably assisted by his colleagues who showed great heart, skill and endeavour to eclipse the meek Gunners.

Pressure and possession weren't initially followed by efforts on goal, Allan Saint-Maximin coming closest in the first half with a trademark run and shot that Aaron Ramsdale pushed round his post in the 36th minute.

United were ahead ten minutes after the interval and substitute Jacob Murphy was denied by Ramsdale before a visiting side committing more and more resources to their attack were undone at the back in the 85th minute.

The post-match scenes were as memorable as those beforehand; reactions from those whose attendance here spans decades rather than years suggesting that this was an occasion without parallel: all for a team who began the game fourteenth in the table, nine points ahead of the drop zone.

That is anything but logical, but a momentous climax to a home campaign seemingly destined to be a debacle, only to evolve into our best run of form here in a decade really is worth celebrating - capped by a genuine scalp to end what was a run of nine losses to teams currently in the top five.

To have ended on such a triumphant note is difficult to take in, but the belief that better days await is now evident on the field, in the boardroom and in the stands. That's the sub-text to what may appear excessive celebrations to outsiders; the sense of genuine anticipation and this not being a one-off like Howay 5-0, the Old Trafford Semi-Final victories or Barcelona at home.

Avoiding relegation this season was imperative, but rather than stumbling over the line as in previous years, tonight's glorious finale repaid the support handsomely - despite having little tangible to play for. Bonuses and prize money may be at stake, but the lure of a sunbed has often been greater round these parts come May. 

Victory left the Magpies 12th in the table ahead of Sunday's trip to Turf Moor with a top-half finish still possible: nothing short of supernatural. You really do dream of nights like this, but not usually after a season like this.

Biffa