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Declan Rice stepped up when it mattered once again for Arsenal as he swept home the winning goal in the Gunners 1-0 Premier League victory over Newcastle United on May 18.
Rice's late strike not only brings him up a career-best nine goals in all competitions - it also ticked off some key boxes for Mikel Arteta.
In a clash billed as the battle for second place, Arsenal have now virtually confirmed second spot for the third successive season under Arteta, and sealed a UEFA Champions League spot.
The three remaining UCL places will battled for between five teams on the final weekend of the season with Eddie Howe's team right in the middle of it.
Despite another trophy-less campaign, Arteta is not expected to move on in the coming months, and the club hierarchy will back him in the transfer market.
2026 may prove to be his final chance, and Rice believes the pressure of fighting across two major competitions eventually caught up with Arsenal, as he looked back on the campaign.
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Rice admits Arsenal could not balance Premier League title challenge
Rice spoke passionately at the end of the game, and the England international did not hold back when indicating the last few weeks have not been good enough, as Arteta tried to keep title challenges going in the EPL and UCL.
"We've been poor by our standards in the last few weeks in the league. We went so hard in the Champions League and our form dropped in the Premier League. We grew into the game and showed that grit. Three points at home is a great way to end the league at home," as per BBC Sport.
"We have to be at this level every week, we had such a good chance in the Champions League we had momentum with that, and the league slipped away a few weeks ago."
Arsenal end the campaign at relegated Southampton on May 25 where a single point will remove any mathematical chance of being overhauled.
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