Newcastle end campaign with loss

All day, Newcastle had the chance to play spoilers in the Champion's League race. And all day, Newcastle seemed largely disinterested in doing so.

While the Magpies held the majority of the possession (51-49), they didn't do much of anything with it. NUFC only managed one shot on goal. Their play on corners and crosses was, as usual, poor. At one point in the second half, Mathieu Debuchy played a cross into a box that was completely void of Newcastle players. While Hatem Ben Arfa and Yoan Gouffran looked dangerous at times, they lacked a finishing touch to really trouble the Arsenal defense.

It should be said that Newcastle played a fairly stout game defensively themselves. The Gunners attempted ten shots, only putting two on target. Steve Harper, playing in his final match for Newcastle, was largely up to the task. The only shot that beat him was one that pin-balled in the box, coming off the foot at last of Laurent Koscienly at the 52nd minute. That would hold up to be the winner.

Gareth Bale would score for Tottenham, casting the eyes of the Premiership on St. James' Park to see if a late equalizer was in the cards. The drama doubled when Theo Wilcott put a ball off the post. The crowd was engergized, and the players tried to respond. Newcastle did press, but it was not to be.

And so, another season comes to an end. Newcastle will finish 16th, a spot above Sunderland. For all the talk of road woes, Newcastle's home form has been nothing to brag about either. The offseason is full of questions, starting with who wil be guiding NUFC come August.