Arsenal mounted a stunning late comeback to beat Newcastle United 2-1 at St James' Park, closing the gap on Premier League leaders Liverpool to just two points. Gabriel scored the decisive goal in the 96th minute of stoppage time, sparking wild celebrations among the travelling Arsenal supporters.
The victory came just a day after Liverpool suffered their first defeat of the season. Mikel Arteta's side showed title-winning character to snatch three points when it seemed they would drop crucial points in the championship race.
Dramatic turnaround at St James'
Newcastle had taken a 34th-minute lead through Nick Woltemade, who headed home from Sandro Tonali's cross for his second goal since joining the club. Arsenal dominated possession and territory but struggled to break down a resolute Newcastle defence until the final stages.
Mikel Merino came off the bench to equalise in the 84th minute before Gabriel completed the comeback deep into stoppage time. The dramatic finale left Arteta visibly emotional on the touchline as his players celebrated in front of the away end.
Arsenal's dominance in numbers
According to the Daily Mail, Arsenal had 43 touches in the opposition penalty area compared to Newcastle's 17, highlighting their territorial advantage throughout the match. The statistics underlined the visitors' persistence in the face of stubborn resistance from the home side.
A VAR review had earlier overturned a first-half penalty awarded to Arsenal for a foul on Viktor Gyökeres by Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope. Chronicle Live reported that Gabriel had elbowed Woltemade in the face after Newcastle's opening goal, but the incident went unpunished by referee Stuart Attwell.
Arteta's emotional reaction
"Unbelievable feeling. That's what football is about," Arteta said after the match. "As a team when you get what you deserve right at the end, there's not a better feeling than that."
The Spanish manager praised his team's character and persistence in grinding out a result that could prove crucial in the title race. Arsenal's late goals demonstrated the mental strength that championship-winning sides require in decisive moments.
Other Premier League action
Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins opened his account for the season in a 3-1 home victory over Fulham. Manager Unai Emery expressed confidence that "the goals are coming" for the England forward after his penalty miss against Bologna in midweek.
Nuno Espírito Santo knows he needs to hit the ground running when he takes charge of West Ham for the first time at Everton on Monday night. The Portuguese manager was confirmed as the new head coach on Saturday, just hours after Graham Potter's dismissal.
Sources used: "PA Media", "Daily Mail", "Chronicle Live", "Independent" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
