Gabriel Magalhaes scored six minutes into second-half stoppage time as Arsenal recovered from a goal down to earn a dramatic 2-1 victory over Newcastle United at St James’ Park. Mikel Arteta’s Gunners looked set to lose 1-0 on Tyneside for the third successive Premier League campaign when Nick Woltemade put Newcastle ahead in the 34th minute.
But after a string of fine saves from Nick Pope kept the visitors at bay, substitute Mikel Merinodragged them level in the 84th minute with a glancing header from Declan Rice’s delivery, which went in via a post.
And another Arsenal substitute, fit-again captain Martin Odegaard, created the decisive moment when his inswinging corner was powerfully headed home by Gabriel.
The win lifts Arsenal to second in the table, just two points behind leaders Liverpool after their defeat at Crystal Palace on Saturday, while Newcastle are down in 15th with six points.
How the match unfolded
Eberechi Eze was Arsenal’s brightest player in the first half, forcing Pope into two excellent saves.
Between those efforts, the Gunners thought they had a penalty when Viktor Gyokeres intercepted Jacob Murphy’s loose pass and went down under Pope’s challenge.
But after a VAR review, referee Jarred Gillett ruled the goalkeeper had played the ball and reversed his on-field decision.
Newcastle then went ahead in the 34th minute as Woltemade escaped Gabriel to nod Sandro Tonali’s inviting cross into the bottom-left corner.
In the second half, Pope spectacularly turned Jurrien Timber’s header around a post, as Arsenal pressed for an equaliser.
Eddie Howe reverted to a five-man defence in a bid to protect Newcastle’s lead, but it was Arteta’s changes that made the difference as Merino flicked a header in off a post to make it 1-1.
And Arsenal refused to settle for a point, with Gabriel stealing a march on Pope to head home deep in to stoppage time.
Though Arsenal were mightily relieved to avoid another defeat to a potential title rival last week, some onlookers accused Arteta of adopting an overly conservative approach in the early stages of their 1-1 draw with Manchester City, which saw Gabriel Martinelli equalise in stoppage time.
Arteta hit back at those critics in the following days, asking: “How can you dominate against Man City by playing with a handbrake?”
Arsenal were certainly positive in the first half against Newcastle, but their endeavour was not rewarded.
Usually so strong from corners at both ends, Arsenal were also found wanting when Gabriel went down under minimal contact in the build-up to Woltemade’s goal.
But like they did against City, Arteta’s substitutions turned the tide, and this time around, they went on to achieve a complete turnaround.
Arteta withdrew full-back Riccardo Calafiori and holding midfielder Martin Zubimendi for Merino and Odegaard, and each substitute registered a goal involvement in a dramatic finale.
They left it late, but Arsenal capitalised on Liverpool’s first dropped points of the campaign and will now bounce into a busy week with renewed belief.
They host Olympiacos in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday, then resume their title push at home to West Ham United next Saturday.
Newcastle’s resistance broken
The story of Newcastle’s season thus far has mostly been one of forward frustration, but the Magpies had kept four clean sheets in their first five matches of the campaign, only conceding to champions Liverpool in a chaotic 3-2 loss.
It looked as though Newcastle’s rock-solid defence would get them over the line for a huge win here, but two late lapses meant they walked away empty-handed.
Newcastle were defensively sound in the first half, soaking up pressure while threatening from set-pieces at the other end.
Howe’s second-half change of shape, which involved the introductions of Kieran Trippier and Jamaal Lascelles, was intended to give Newcastle the additional bodies required to defend their area.
Howe will be particularly disappointed, then, to see Arsenal score from two deliveries into a crowded box, while the previously imperious Pope was caught in no man’s land for the winning goal.
Newcastle also saw full-back Tino Livramento carried off on a stretcher to cap a frustrating finish, and they must pick themselves up for a Champions League meeting with Union Saint-Gilloise and a home Premier League match against Nottingham Forest next Sunday.
By Premier League
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