Last year Arsene Wenger's Arsenal side snatched third on the last day of the season with Spurs ending up fourth. They will hope for the same today with victory at Newcastle.

A quick reminder: if Chelsea draw 0-0 against Everton and Arsenal win 2-1, they will have identical records and we will have a play-off for third place. The same applies to 1-1 and 3-2, and 2-2 and 4-3, and 3-3 and 5-4.

Mike Ashley will share out £1million between Newcastle's staff if the Magpies beat Arsenal – but the players will see none of it. Ashley will hand the windfall to non-playing and coaching staff if Alan Pardew's men end a difficult season in style – with everyone from the tea lady to the kit man in line for a pay-out. Ashley grew up a Chelsea fan and any result for Newcastle will ensure the Blues finish above the Gunners in the table.

Central defender Steven Taylor returns to the Newcastle side after missing the 2-1 victory at relegated QPR last weekend through illness. Goalkeeper Rob Elliot is suspended following his dismissal at Loftus Road and with Tim Krul nursing a dislocated shoulder, that means 38-year-old Steve Harper will make a final appearance for the club after 20 years on Tyneside. Midfielder Sylvain Marveaux is fully fit after a groin injury and on the bench.

And Wenger is trusting the men who won on Tuesday with midfielder Mikel Arteta fit after a calf problem. England international Jack Wilshere, set to have an operation on his troublesome ankle next week, is only fit for the bench. Striker Olivier Giroud returns from a three-match suspension but is only a substitute.

"There will be nerves again (at Newcastle), but we have dealt with nerves for a long, long time now," Wenger told Arsenal Player. "It is natural of course, because it shows that (the players) care but this team is on an exceptional run and has an exceptional spirit. We have 70 points, the target is 73, so let's just go with the spirit and desire we have and I think we can do it."

With Manchester United crowned champions, Manchester City guaranteed second spot and all three relegation victims already decided, the focus is on the Champions League places with Chelsea on 72 points, Arsenal on 70 and Spurs on 69. Third place earns automatic passage to the group stage of Europe's elite club competition, while fourth place means a ticket to the third qualifying round. Fifth means heartbreak and the Europa League, an all too familiar outcome for Spurs.

So the Arsenal side is unchanged from the team that demolished Wigan at the Emirates. Cisse, Ben Arfa and Cabaye all start for Newcastle.

TEAMS: NEWCASTLE: Harper, Debuchy, S.Taylor, Coloccini, Yanga-Mbiwa, Tiote, Cabaye, Gutierrez, Ben Arfa, Cisse, Gouffran. Subs: Alnwick, Simpson, Anita, Perch, Marveaux, Obertan, Campbell. /// ARSENAL: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs, Arteta, Ramsey, Rosicky, Cazorla, Walcott, Podolski. Subs: Fabianski, Vermaelen, Monreal, Wilshere, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Gervinho, Giroud.