Not the bounce-back from Cup final disappointment that we might have hoped for, not a barnstorming 5-0 like Newcastle suffered at Highbury earlier in the season, but this nil-nil draw gives Arsenal the point we needed to guarantee 2nd place in the league and a place in the Champs League proper next season. See this item for more about that competition.

It was a wet game, but not dull. As per usual, our approach play did not deserve our final balls. Henry just doesn't seem to have the knack just at the moment, but it was Bergkamp who came off for Kanu. Dennis gave some examples of the kind of touches we've been missing.

Newcastle had a few chances too, including one heart-stopping moment right at the death. The thought of having to go into the last match needing a point, with it all set up for another bloody Michael Owen moment at the Valley... Well, it doesn't bear thinking about. Not now that it ain't gonna happen, anyway.

Congratulations to Lee Dixon on getting his 600th first-team appearance tonight. Let's hope he sticks around for long enough to help his replacement, cos he's still by far the best we've got in his position, and he can help the new boy get used to how the Arsenal defence works. Seems to me he could have a good shot at getting the 21 games needed to catch George Armstrong in 3rd place. Interesting to note, given the way things have been going in football in the last decade (I'm thinking of the notorious loss of club loyalty), that the top 3 in terms of Arsenal appearances would then all be from recent years, that the 3 of them played together. I hope you don't need telling the other 2!

See match reports page for list of links to reports on other sites.