Premier League: Aston Villa 1-0 Arsenal - hosts out of bottom three

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, speaking to Sky Sports: "Villa gave absolutely everything and perhaps we lacked a little bit of freshness.

"Congratulations to Villa because they were put under a lot of pressure and they managed to win the game. We were in some really good positions but we didn't manage to deliver the ball.

"Emotionally and physically it's been a very demanding week but I saw a team whio wanted to fight until the end. I'm not disappointed about the attitude - I know where we are in certain areas and where we need to improve more. We will get that."

On finishing outside the top six for the first time in 25 years: "It tells you the gap doesn't lie. We have to make that smaller and smaller."

On a banner which flew over the ground reading "Back Arteta, Kroenke Out": "The Kroenkes and the board and the sporting director, I have their full backing. I have that 100% - the fans have to believe what I'm saying."

There's going to be a lot of permutations to keep across on Sunday. Lilke this one:

Aston Villa manager Dean Smith, speaking to Sky Sports: "It was a great performance but an even better result. We knew we had to show a lot of courage, heart and workrate and we did that. I can't remember our keeper making saves.

"We'd love to have had our fans getting us over the line but you could hear enough from the non-playing staff to do that.

"We've been much better defensively over these eight games. We wanted to be better and the players were engaged with the video sessions we did [during lockdown].

"We needed this. We've got to go and do the same against West Ham on Sunday.

"It's a big boost, that's for sure. We knew we had to win to catch Watford up. Now we've got the season in our own hands and that's all you can ask for.

"Watford can go and win at Arsenal so we have to make sure we win at West Ham."

Andrew Mitchell: One plus of a #Watfordfc return to the Championship... no more VAR. We get proper football back... a proper emotional connection to the game back.

Amrul: Arsenal 10th? That is just embarassing.

Matt W: Not sure anybody thought at the start of the season that Arsenal would be relying on winning the FA Cup just to get into Europe next year - certainly not me, I had a bet on them finishing in the top four!

Not a totally convincing 'I'm staying' that was it?

And I'll let twitter tell Jack it's not quite in their hands.

Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish, speaking to Sky Sports: "It feels unbelievable. I thought it was deserved - we were outstanding today.

"I reckon we could have got another goal but we'll take a 1-0 win all day against a great team like Arsenal.

"It has been a tense day but all we can do is focus on ourselves. It's in our hands now and it's up to us what we do on the last day. We have a massive game on Sunday at West Ham.

"It feels massive [to be out of the relegation zone].

"We've conceded quite a few late goals this season but we trust in ourselves and we have trust in the management staff.

"It would mean everything to keep Villa up."

Could this have been his last game at Villa Park?: "I'm not too sure at the moment. I have one aim and that's to keep Villa in the Premier League. That's all I'm thinking about at the moment."

BBC SportCopyright: BBC Sport

One of Villa, Bournemouth and Watford will be in the Premier League next season.

Who shall take the prize?

A legitimate usage of the phrase this week. The games to watch at the foot of the table are:

Arsenal v Watford

Everton v Bournemouth

West Ham v Aston Villa

Yeah, good point.

Jason: not strictly true about Villa beating West Ham and being safe. Watford could win and score more goals

Arsenal (W4-D8-L7) equal the club Premier League record for fewest away wins in a single campaign: W4-D4-L11 in 2017-18.

They are also guaranteed to have their worst Premier League finish since 1995.

Timothy Clack: So, Villa are now out of the relegation zone because the goal line technology didn't work against Sheffield United. Hilarious. Although I'd be pretty irritated if I supported Watford...

I Uwa: One hand on the life boat for Aston Villa

Tambuwal: Beaten Liverpool and Manchester City in the space of five days, then losing to a bottom three team. Only Arsenal can do that.

Dean Smith's demeanour has not changed all game. Still looks as calm as anything. It counts for nothing yet of course but we know that Sunday is going to be exciting for sure...

Aston Villa will end a day outside of the bottom three for the first time since 28 February.

Another good clearance from Tyrone Mings, boomed away. Villa almost there...

Aston Villa haven't faced any shots on target in a Premier League game for the first time since January 2016 (v WBA)...

Final minute. Tyrone Mings is doing a good John Terry impression at the moment, winning everything back there. John McGinn is fouled to eat up some valuable clock.

FOUR minutes to be added on.

Time almsot going backwards for Villa fans now as we tick ever closer towards a finish. Arsenal come again...

Nicolas Pepe curls it in, dangerous, Pepe Reina comes for it and Tyrone Mings instead heads it over his own bar.

That was demanded. Commanded.