Piers Morgan and Jeff Stelling at odds over Arsenal's season under Mikel Arteta

Piers Morgan and Jeff Stelling have clashed over their assessment of Arsenal's season and the progress under boss Mikel Arteta.

The debate was started after the Gunners crashed to a two-goal defeat against Newcastle on Monday night in a limp performance which left their hopes of a Champions League finish in tatters. The Magpies were the comfortably superior side throughout with a Ben White own goal and late Bruno Guimaraes finish sealing Arsenal 's fate.

It was the second painful loss in a matter of days for the Gunners following on from their 3-0 defeat at North London rivals Tottenham on Thursday, which left Mikel Arteta's side two points behind their neighbours going into the final day of the season in the race of a top-four finish with a vastly inferior goal difference.

Spurs need only a point away to already-relegated Norwich on the final day of the campaign while Arsenal must win at home to Everton and hope the Canaries can pull of a shock victory. However, such a scenario feels unlikely and the sense is that the Gunners have blown their hopes of returning to Champions League football for the first time in six years.

That prompted Morgan - a high-profile critic of Arsenal boss Arteta - to turn his ire on the Spaniard and the decision to allow club captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to leave in January. The Gabonese striker joined Barcelona as a free agent in mid-season having been ostracised by Arteta and leaving the club with only Eddie Nketiah and Alexandre Lacazette as their recognised strikers.

Morgan went onto Twitter to once again reiterate his belief that Aubameyang should have been retained: "We should have kept Aubameyang, got rid of Arteta & hired an experienced manager who can manage world-class talent and whose process we can actually trust."

Have Your Say! Is Arsenal's season a failure if they miss out on a top four spot? Tell us what you think here.

That led to Sky Sports host Jeff Stelling responding: "Piers you are not always wrong but you are on this. With this squad, Arteta has done exceptionally well." To which Morgan retorted: "Unbeliev-ably bad take, Jeff!"

Stelling then replied that Morgan was lacking perspective on the Gunners campaign and that they in fact had enjoyed a good season: "Every fan believes his team should be the best but get some perspective. You have great young talent but huge gaps defensively and in midfield. Some of you rivals just have the huge gaps!"

Arsenal's season is likely to divide opinion. While they were never tipped to attain a top-four place, their lack of European football meant they played multiple fewer games than rivals - most notable West Ham, who played 14 matches in the Europa League.

The collapse of Manchester United this campaign and the struggles of Leicester - who had finished successive campaigns in fifth place prior to this season - had allowed Arsenal to climb the standings but it now appears they will be pipped into the final Champions League place by Tottenham.