Arsenal hopes to secure Champions League berth

May 17, 2013 - 4:59 PM London, England (Sports Network) - Arsenal will attempt to nail down a spot in next season's Champions League with maximum points against Newcastle at Sports Direct Arena in the final round of Premier League fixtures on Sunday.

With the title and relegation races already decided, all that's left to play for is the final Champions League berth, which will be contested by a pair of bitter rivals.

Arsenal comes into the final weekend in fourth place on 70 points, needing just a victory to clinch the final qualification spot for Europe's most prestigious club competition. But should the Gunners stumble, Tottenham can overtake them with a victory over Sunderland at White Hart Lane.

But the Gunners appear destined to finish fourth given their sublime run of form which has seen them drop just four points over their current nine-match unbeaten streak in Premier League play.

Arsenal is coming off of a 4-1 dismantling of Wigan at the Emirates on Tuesday, a match that striker Olivier Giroud believes has given his side an added conviction heading into the weekend.

"We are confident," Giroud told Arsenal's official website "We won the last game 4-1 after the comeback of Wigan at 1-1. We were under pressure with the score. We needed the win. I could feel the pressure on our shoulders and I think the team had a good reaction and we succeeded to score the second goal with Theo (Walcott). It was a relief for us."

Arsenal may not even need all three points against Newcastle if Tottenham fails to do the business, but Arsene Wenger remained adamant that the Gunners will not pay attention to what transpires during the simultaneous kickoff at White Hart Lane, no matter how dramatic the proceedings may be.

"We will not listen to (the Tottenham game) at all," Wenger told the club's website. "Certainly some members of my staff (might), I cannot control everybody. But I just focus on us winning the game because after you look at the results of the other teams."

While there is nothing at stake for the rest of the Premier League on Sunday, the final round of fixtures will serve as a bittersweet farewell to some important figures that have shaped England's top flight in recent years.

Sir Alex Ferguson will man the touchline for the final time when Manchester United heads to the Hawthorns to take on West Bromwich Albion. The legendary manager handed a start to Paul Scholes in United's final home match of the season, and he may feel compelled to repeat that decision on Sunday as the Red Devils midfielder prepares to follow the 71-year-old into retirement.

David Moyes will take over at Old Trafford next season, meaning that his match against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge will be his final contest as Everton boss.

Liverpool is set to say goodbye to a club legend as the club's home clash with QPR on Sunday will mark Jamie Carragher's final match for the Reds. The 35- year-old announced his plans to retire at the conclusion of the season, meaning that he will leave the game in front of his home crowd at Anfield.

Michael Owen will retire at the end of the campaign, as well. The former England international will call time on career that was marred by injuries, but he will soak up the limelight one final time as his Stoke City side heads to St. Mary's to take on Southampton.

Rounding out the final weekend of Premier League action this season, Manchester City welcomes Norwich City to the Etihad, Fulham heads to the Liberty Stadium to take on Swansea City, West Ham hosts Reading at Upton Park and Wigan faces Aston Villa at the DW Stadium.