Theo Walcott was driven by the thought of being part of the first Arsenal side in a generation to miss out on Champions League football. Walcott has every confidence the Gunners can now finish the job at Newcastle after victory over Wigan and deliver a 16th successive shot at Europe's elite club competition.

"We just have great experience in knowing what to do when the time is right. It is funny. It happens every year," said Walcott.

"We tend to finish very strong. I think it is just because the players want it so much.

"It (Champions League football) is big for the future of the club and the players. We have been in it for the last 15 years and we don't want to be the players who are not part of that.

"We just need to show that in the mid-season and at the start and we could hopefully be even higher than we are and not have this situation we are in.

"But it is very positive, and we will be fighting strong on Sunday."