LONDON, England (AFP) — Arsenal won the race for fourth place in the Premier League with a 1-0 victory at Newcastle, while Alex Ferguson’s extraordinary career ended in remarkable fashion as Manchester United drew 5-5 at West Bromwich Albion yesterday.

Arsene Wenger’s side needed three points to guarantee a spot in next season’s Champions League qualification rounds ahead of north London rivals Tottenham and Laurent Koscielny’s second-half strike ensured they achieved that aim.

Koscielny’s goal meant more heartache for Spurs who once again had to settle for a place in the Europa League that comes with finishing fifth despite their 1-0 win against Sunderland at White Hart Lane.

“The players are special. I’ve told them many times but they’ve shown it in the last two months they’ve been absolutely exceptional,” Wenger said.

Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas added: “It is difficult to take. In the end we did what we had to but Arsenal did their job well and go through.”

Ferguson was taking charge of United for the 1,500th and final time before retiring and the 71-year-old Scot, given a guard of honour before kick-off, looked set to bow out with a win as the Premier League champions romped into a 5-2 lead.

But Albion scored three times in the last nine minutes in an incredible finish to spoil Ferguson’s farewell at the Hawthorns.

“5-5, what a mad result! Let’s be honest the boss was never going out with a boring 0-0,” United defender Rio Ferdinand tweeted after the first Premier League game ever to finish 5-5.

Ferguson saluted United’s fans at the final whistle, but refused to speak to the media and, stopping only to describe the occasion as “emotional, very emotional”, he headed off into retirement after sharing a glass of red wine with Albion manager Steve Clarke.

“He knew what it was,” Clarke said of the 2003 Chateau Pontet Canet. “He said it was a good year. I am not sure Sir Alex enjoyed the game that much though!”

At St James’ Park, Arsenal bagged the priceless goal when French defender Koscielny swivelled to volley home from close-range after Lukas Podolski flicked on Theo Walcott’s free-kick in the 52nd minute.

The victory secured Arsenal’s 16th consecutive Champions League qualification and will ease the pain of another trophyless season for the Gunners, who trailed Tottenham by seven points at the start of March.

Spurs struggled to break down Sunderland until the closing moments, even though Black Cats midfielder

David Vaughan was sent off for a second booking in the 75th minute.

They finally took the lead when Bale cracked a stunning strike into the top corner from long range in the 90th minute, but Arsenal were just seconds away from victory by then.

Since taking charge of United for the first time in a 2-0 defeat at Oxford on November 8, 1986, Ferguson has amassed an incredible 38 trophies, including 13 Premier League titles and two Champions League crowns.

This was his swansong, as well as the final game before retirement for United midfielder Paul Scholes, who came on as a second-half substitute, and it was suitably dramatic.

Japan midfielder Shinji Kagawa got United’s first in the sixth minute and Albion defender Jonas Olsson scored a ninth-minute own goal.

Alexander Buttner smashed in United’s third in the 30th minute before James Morrison got one back for the hosts in the 40th minute.

Romelu Lukaku scored for Albion in the 50th minute before Robin van Persie netted for United three minutes later and Hernandez bagged the fifth in the 63rd minute.

Yet Albion provided an incredible finale as Lukaku and Youssouf Mulumbu both scored in the space of 60 seconds in the 81st minute before on-loan Chelsea striker Lukaku completed his hat-trick to equalise in the 86th minute.