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LAURENT KOSCIELNY showed the predatory skills of a seasoned striker to fire Arsenal into the top four. The Frenchman flicked home just after the break to down Newcastle and ensure the Gunners qualified for the Champions League. It meant Tottenham�s last-gasp win over Sunderland � thanks to Gareth Bale�s stunner � was rendered meaningless as Spurs finished a point behind their fourth-placed rivals. The Gunners result also saw boss Arsene Wenger qualify for the Europe�s elite competition for the 17th season in a row. It was a fairly even first half with Arsenal just edging the chances. Theo Walcott blazed over early on before Papiss Cisse failed to convert after good work from make-shift left-back Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa. Laurent Koscielny�s flicked header from a corner bounced just wide, before Fabricio Coloccini almost turned into his own net from a Walcott set-piece. Crocked Mikel Arteta, who had started the game despite carrying a knock, was forced to come off midway through the first period and replaced by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Santi Cazorla and Hatem Ben Arfa were both guilty of blazing decent opportunities before the break. Steve Harper, playing his last game for the Toon, was cheered at every occasion. But he almost cost his side a goal as a poor clearance went straight to Walcott who fired towards the far corner which had the veteran stopper at full stretch to keep out. The Gunners took the lead six minutes after the interval after Yohan Cabaye gave away a needless free-kick with a wild lunge on Bacary Sagna. Walcott fired in the free-kick Lukas Podolski flicked forward for Koscielny to acrobatically turn home past the helpless Harper. Alan Pardew responded by throwing on Sylvain Marveaux for Yoan Gouffran before Ben Arfa skewed a shot wide. Toon were crying for a penalty as Mathieu Debuchy went down in the area under pressure from Santi Cazorla but there was nothing given. Walcott could and should have wrapped up the victory in injury-time as he raced clear, but his effort bounced back off the post. But it didn�t matter as Wenger�s men held out for the most precious of victories to ensure Champions League football.