The last time Arsenal came to Gallowgate ...
2012/13 NEWCASTLE 0 ARSENAL 1
NEWCASTLE: 37. Steve Harper 26. Mathieu Debuchy 27. Steven Taylor 2. Fabricio Coloccini 13. Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa 80' 10. Hatem Ben Arfa 4. Yohan Cabaye 57' 24. Cheick Tiote 18. Jonas Gutierrez 11. Yoan Gouffran 64' 9. Papiss Cisse
Subs: 42. Jak Alnwick 5. Danny Simpson 8. Vurnon Anita 57' 14. James Perch 22. Sylvain Marveaux 64' 25. Gabriel Obertan 49. Adam Campbell 80'
ARSENAL: 1. Wojciech Szczesny 3. Bacary Sagna 4. Per Mertesacker 6. Laurent Koscielny 28. Kieran Gibbs 16. Aaron Ramsey 8. Mikel Arteta 28' 14. Theo Walcott 7. Tomas Rosicky 19. Santi Cazorla 88' 9. Lukas Podolski 77'
Subs: 21. Lukasz Fabianski 5. Thomas Vermaelen 10. Jack Wilshere 88' 12. Olivier Giroud 77' 15. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain 28' 27. Gervinho 17. Nacho Monreal
This was the last game of the season, and if Arsenal lost and Mike Ashley's boyhood favourites Tottenham won ... Spurs would qualify for the Champions League.
So what did Ashley do? He put £1,000,000 on the table and said it would go to the Newcastle team IF they beat the Gunners!
There is NEVER a good time to lose a match ... but if it kicks Ashley in balls ... there is a good side.
Laurent Koscielny ensured Arsenal of a place in the Champions League qualifiers with the only goal in a tight encounter at Newcastle.
The central defender prodded home from close range seven minutes after the break to ensure that the Gunners could not be overhauled by north London rivals Tottenham in the fight for fourth place in the Barclays Premier League.
But the result was in doubt until the final kick of the game, with Tottenham's home win over Sunderland meaning a late equaliser for Alan Pardew's men would have meant Spurs and not the Gunners getting a shot at Europe's premier club competition.
Newcastle had motivation of their own, after owner Mike Ashley's offer of £1million to be shared between the club's non-footballing staff if they ended a difficult campaign with a victory.
But ultimately, a third successive defeat at St James' Park, albeit despite a much-improved display, saw the staff go empty-handed and 38-year-old goalkeeper Steve Harper denied the perfect finish to his long career on Tyneside in front of a crowd of 52,354.
The Gunners enjoyed plenty of possession with Santi Cazorla the fulcrum, but with Newcastle defending competently, they found chances few and far between.
Theo Walcott, who was largely effectively contained by makeshift full-back Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa before the break, whistled a sixth-minute shot over Harper's crossbar and Koscielny glanced a header harmlessly wide from Cazorla's 12th-minute corner.
But in the meantime, Magpies striker Papiss Cisse had gone significantly closer, whipping a first-time left-foot effort just over after a fine run and cross by Yanga-Mbiwa.
For all Arsenal were able to retain possession for long periods, they were unable to penetrate with Cheick Tiote harrying in the middle of the park and Yoan Gouffran closing down space further upfield.
Gouffran dragged a left-foot shot across the face of goal with 13 minutes gone and Jonas Gutierrez saw a shot from distance deflected safely into Wojciech Szczesny's hands four minutes later.
There was little to choose between the sides, but the Gunners had a glorious opportunity to take the lead with 14 minutes of the half remaining.
Aaron Ramsey picked out full-back Kieran Gibbs in acres of space on the left and he cut inside Mathieu Debuchy before squaring to Cazorla, who steered his shot high over.
Yohan Cabaye tested Szczesny from long range with a dipping effort seven minutes later, but Hatem Ben Arfa, who produced several spellbinding solo runs during the first half, could not hit the target after cutting inside five minutes before the break.
Harper, who was warmly applauded by the home fans as the clock ticked into the 37th minute - his shirt number - was called upon for the first time within 60 seconds of the restart, and he will have been mightily relieved to find himself equal to the task after handing the Gunners their chance himself.
The goalkeeper's scuffed challenge fell to Ramsey, who slid the ball into the path of Walcott, but the England international could not beat Harper as he dived low to his right.
However, Arsenal had emerged in far more determined mood and they went ahead with 52 minutes played when Lukas Podolski headed down Walcott's free-kick for central defensive partner Koscielny to volley past the helpless Harper from close range.
Vurnon Anita, on for the injured Cabaye, sparked a promising 58th-minute attack for the Magpies which saw Jonas Gutierrez set up Cisse, but his shot was blocked at source by Koscielny.
It took Mertesacker's intervention to deny Gouffran a 64th-minute equaliser after Anita had picked out Mathieu Debuchy on the right, and the Frenchman was soon replaced by compatriot Sylvain Marveaux as Pardew looked for a way back into the game.
Walcott had a glorious opportunity to make sure at the death when he carved his way through the home defence, but with just Harper to beat, he stabbed the ball against the foot of the far post, but ultimately Koscielny's effort proved enough.
MAGPIES v GUNNERS
2012/2013 Sun 19 May Newcastle Utd. 0 - 1 Arsenal Premier League
Sat 29 Dec Arsenal 7 - 3 Newcastle Utd. Premier League
2011/2012 Mon 12 Mar Arsenal 2 - 1 Newcastle Utd. Premier League
Sat 13 Aug Newcastle Utd. 0 - 0 Arsenal Premier League
2010/2011 Sat 05 Feb Newcastle Utd. 4 - 4 Arsenal Premier League
Sun 07 Nov Arsenal 0 - 1 Newcastle Utd. Premier League
Wed 27 Oct Newcastle Utd. 0 - 4 Arsenal League Cup
2008/2009 Sat 21 Mar Newcastle Utd. 1 - 3 Arsenal Premier League
Sat 30 Aug Arsenal 3 - 0 Newcastle Utd. Premier League
2007/2008 Tue 29 Jan Arsenal 3 - 0 Newcastle Utd. Premier League
Sat 26 Jan Arsenal 3 - 0 Newcastle Utd. F.A. Cup
Wed 05 Dec Newcastle Utd. 1 - 1 Arsenal Premier League
Tue 25 Sep Arsenal 2 - 0 Newcastle Utd. League Cup
2006/2007 Mon 09 Apr Newcastle Utd. 0 - 0 Arsenal Premiership
Sat 18 Nov Arsenal 1 - 1 Newcastle Utd. Premiership
2005/2006 Sat 10 Dec Newcastle Utd. 1 - 0 Arsenal Premiership
Sun 14 Aug Arsenal 2 - 0 Newcastle Utd. Premiership
2004/2005 Sun 23 Jan Arsenal 1 - 0 Newcastle Utd. Premiership
Wed 29 Dec Newcastle Utd. 0 - 1 Arsenal Premiership
2003/2004 Sun 11 Apr Newcastle Utd. 0 - 0 Arsenal Premiership
Fri 26 Sep Arsenal 3 - 2 Newcastle Utd. Premiership
2002/2003 Sun 09 Feb Newcastle Utd. 1 - 1 Arsenal Premiership
Sat 09 Nov Arsenal 1 - 0 Newcastle Utd. Premiership
2001/2002 Sat 23 Mar Arsenal 3 - 0 Newcastle Utd. F.A. Cup
Sat 09 Mar Newcastle Utd. 1 - 1 Arsenal F.A. Cup
Sat 02 Mar Newcastle Utd. 0 - 2 Arsenal Premiership
Tue 18 Dec Arsenal 1 - 3 Newcastle Utd. Premiership
2000/2001 Tue 15 May Newcastle Utd. 0 - 0 Arsenal Premiership
Sat 09 Dec Arsenal 5 - 0 Newcastle Utd. Premiership
1999/2000 Sun 14 May Newcastle Utd. 4 - 2 Arsenal Premiership
Sat 30 Oct Arsenal 0 - 0 Newcastle Utd. Premiership
1998/1999 Sun 28 Feb Newcastle Utd. 1 - 1 Arsenal Premiership
Sun 04 Oct Arsenal 3 - 0 Newcastle Utd. Premiership
1997/1998 Sat 16 May Arsenal 2 - 0 Newcastle Utd. F.A. Cup
played at Wembley
Sat 11 Apr Arsenal 3 - 1 Newcastle Utd. Premiership
Sat 06 Dec Newcastle Utd. 0 - 1 Arsenal Premiership
1996/1997 Sat 03 May Arsenal 0 - 1 Newcastle Utd. Premiership
Sat 30 Nov Newcastle Utd. 1 - 2 Arsenal Premiership
1995/1996 Sat 23 Mar Arsenal 2 - 0 Newcastle Utd. Premiership
Wed 10 Jan Arsenal 2 - 0 Newcastle Utd. League Cup
Tue 02 Jan Newcastle Utd. 2 - 0 Arsenal Premiership
1994/1995 Sun 19 Mar Newcastle Utd. 1 - 0 Arsenal Premiership
Sun 18 Sep Arsenal 2 - 3 Newcastle Utd. Premiership
1993/1994 Sat 07 May Newcastle Utd. 2 - 0 Arsenal Premiership
Sat 27 Nov Arsenal 2 - 1 Newcastle Utd. Premiership
1988/1989 Sat 15 Apr Arsenal 1 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 12 Nov Newcastle Utd. 0 - 1 Arsenal First Division
1987/1988 Sat 19 Mar Arsenal 1 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 31 Oct Newcastle Utd. 0 - 1 Arsenal First Division
1986/1987 Tue 14 Apr Arsenal 0 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 18 Oct Newcastle Utd. 1 - 2 Arsenal First Division
1985/1986 Sat 01 Mar Newcastle Utd. 1 - 0 Arsenal First Division
Sat 28 Sep Arsenal 0 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1984/1985 Sat 29 Dec Newcastle Utd. 1 - 3 Arsenal First Division
Tue 04 Sep Arsenal 2 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1977/1978 Sat 15 Apr Arsenal 2 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 19 Nov Newcastle Utd. 1 - 2 Arsenal First Division
1976/1977 Sat 30 Apr Newcastle Utd. 0 - 2 Arsenal First Division
Sat 04 Dec Arsenal 5 - 3 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1975/1976 Tue 16 Mar Arsenal 0 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 01 Nov Newcastle Utd. 2 - 0 Arsenal First Division
1974/1975 Wed 23 Apr Newcastle Utd. 3 - 1 Arsenal First Division
Tue 18 Mar Arsenal 3 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1973/1974 Tue 01 Jan Arsenal 0 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 01 Sep Newcastle Utd. 1 - 1 Arsenal First Division
1972/1973 Sat 27 Jan Arsenal 2 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 09 Sep Newcastle Utd. 2 - 1 Arsenal First Division
1971/1972 Sat 11 Mar Newcastle Utd. 2 - 0 Arsenal First Division
Sat 09 Oct Arsenal 4 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1970/1971 Sat 17 Apr Arsenal 1 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 10 Oct Newcastle Utd. 1 - 1 Arsenal First Division
1969/1970 Sat 27 Dec Arsenal 0 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 30 Aug Newcastle Utd. 3 - 1 Arsenal First Division
1968/1969 Sat 18 Jan Newcastle Utd. 2 - 1 Arsenal First Division
Sat 09 Nov Arsenal 0 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1967/1968 Sat 10 Feb Arsenal 0 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 30 Sep Newcastle Utd. 2 - 1 Arsenal First Division
1966/1967 Sat 25 Feb Newcastle Utd. 2 - 1 Arsenal First Division
Sat 08 Oct Arsenal 2 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1965/1966 Sat 26 Mar Arsenal 1 - 3 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 02 Oct Newcastle Utd. 0 - 1 Arsenal First Division
1960/1961 Sat 04 Feb Newcastle Utd. 3 - 3 Arsenal First Division
Sat 17 Sep Arsenal 5 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1959/1960 Sat 27 Feb Arsenal 1 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 05 Dec Newcastle Utd. 4 - 1 Arsenal First Division
1958/1959 Sat 21 Mar Newcastle Utd. 1 - 0 Arsenal First Division
Sat 01 Nov Arsenal 3 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1957/1958 Sat 12 Apr Newcastle Utd. 3 - 3 Arsenal First Division
Sat 30 Nov Arsenal 2 - 3 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1956/1957 Sat 19 Jan Newcastle Utd. 3 - 1 Arsenal First Division
Sat 15 Sep Arsenal 0 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1955/1956 Sat 25 Feb Newcastle Utd. 2 - 0 Arsenal First Division
Sat 15 Oct Arsenal 1 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1954/1955 Sat 18 Dec Newcastle Utd. 5 - 1 Arsenal First Division
Sat 21 Aug Arsenal 1 - 3 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1953/1954 Sat 17 Apr Newcastle Utd. 5 - 2 Arsenal First Division
Sat 28 Nov Arsenal 2 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1952/1953 Sat 14 Mar Newcastle Utd. 2 - 2 Arsenal First Division
Sat 25 Oct Arsenal 3 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1951/1952 Wed 16 Apr Arsenal 1 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 17 Nov Newcastle Utd. 2 - 0 Arsenal First Division
1950/1951 Sat 03 Feb Arsenal 0 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 23 Sep Newcastle Utd. 2 - 1 Arsenal First Division
1949/1950 Sat 15 Apr Arsenal 4 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 29 Oct Newcastle Utd. 0 - 3 Arsenal First Division
1948/1949 Sat 19 Mar Newcastle Utd. 3 - 2 Arsenal First Division
Sat 20 Nov Arsenal 0 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1933/1934 Sat 24 Feb Newcastle Utd. 0 - 1 Arsenal First Division
Sat 14 Oct Arsenal 3 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1932/1933 Sat 25 Mar Newcastle Utd. 2 - 1 Arsenal First Division
Sat 12 Nov Arsenal 1 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1931/1932 Sat 19 Mar Arsenal 1 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 07 Nov Newcastle Utd. 3 - 2 Arsenal First Division
1930/1931 Sat 25 Apr Newcastle Utd. 1 - 3 Arsenal First Division
Sat 20 Dec Arsenal 1 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1929/1930 Sat 05 Apr Newcastle Utd. 1 - 1 Arsenal First Division
Sat 30 Nov Arsenal 0 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1928/1929 Tue 02 Apr Arsenal 1 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 20 Oct Newcastle Utd. 0 - 3 Arsenal First Division
1927/1928 Sat 21 Apr Newcastle Utd. 1 - 1 Arsenal First Division
Sat 10 Dec Arsenal 4 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1926/1927 Wed 06 Apr Newcastle Utd. 6 - 1 Arsenal First Division
Sat 02 Oct Arsenal 2 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1925/1926 Sat 13 Feb Arsenal 3 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 03 Oct Newcastle Utd. 7 - 0 Arsenal First Division
1924/1925 Sat 17 Jan Arsenal 0 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 13 Sep Newcastle Utd. 2 - 2 Arsenal First Division
1923/1924 Sat 01 Sep Newcastle Utd. 1 - 0 Arsenal First Division
Sat 25 Aug Arsenal 1 - 4 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1922/1923 Sat 28 Oct Arsenal 1 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 21 Oct Newcastle Utd. 1 - 1 Arsenal First Division
1921/1922 Sat 11 Feb Newcastle Utd. 3 - 1 Arsenal First Division
Sat 04 Feb Arsenal 2 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1920/1921 Sat 30 Apr Newcastle Utd. 1 - 0 Arsenal First Division
Sat 23 Apr Arsenal 1 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1919/1920 Sat 06 Sep Newcastle Utd. 3 - 1 Arsenal First Division
Sat 30 Aug Arsenal 0 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1912/1913 Sat 25 Jan Newcastle Utd. 3 - 1 Woolwich A First Division
Sat 28 Sep Woolwich A 1 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1911/1912 Sat 20 Jan Newcastle Utd. 1 - 2 Woolwich A First Division
Sat 16 Sep Woolwich A 2 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1910/1911 Sat 01 Apr Newcastle Utd. 0 - 1 Woolwich A First Division
Sat 26 Nov Woolwich A 1 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1909/1910 Fri 25 Mar Newcastle Utd. 1 - 1 Woolwich A First Division
Sat 25 Dec Woolwich A 0 - 3 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1908/1909 Sat 09 Jan Newcastle Utd. 3 - 1 Woolwich A First Division
Sat 12 Sep Woolwich A 1 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1907/1908 Fri 17 Apr Newcastle Utd. 2 - 1 Woolwich A First Division
Wed 25 Dec Woolwich A 2 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1906/1907 Sat 26 Jan Newcastle Utd. 1 - 0 Woolwich A First Division
Sat 22 Sep Woolwich A 2 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1905/1906 Mon 16 Apr Newcastle Utd. 1 - 1 Woolwich A First Division
Mon 25 Dec Woolwich A 4 - 3 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1904/1905 Sat 31 Dec Woolwich A 0 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 03 Sep Newcastle Utd. 3 - 0 Woolwich A First Division
1897/1898 Sat 16 Oct Woolwich A 0 - 0 Newcastle Utd. Second Division
Sat 04 Sep Newcastle Utd. 4 - 1 Woolwich A Second Division
1896/1897 Fri 16 Apr Woolwich A 5 - 1 Newcastle Utd. Second Division
Sat 23 Jan Newcastle Utd. 2 - 0 Woolwich A Second Division
1895/1896 Mon 06 Apr Woolwich A 2 - 1 Newcastle Utd. Second Division
Sat 18 Jan Newcastle Utd. 3 - 1 Woolwich A Second Division
1894/1895 Sat 12 Jan Woolwich A 3 - 2 Newcastle Utd. Second Division
Sat 24 Nov Newcastle Utd. 2 - 4 Woolwich A Second Division
1893/1894 Sat 30 Sep Newcastle Utd. 6 - 0 Woolwich A Second Division
Sat 02 Sep Woolwich A 2 - 2 Newcastle Utd. Second Division