Arsenal summoned a comeback of real substance at St James’ Park, overturning Nick Woltemade’s first-half header with two late set-piece goals to beat Newcastle United 2-1. Substitute Mikel Merino nodded them level six minutes from time before Gabriel, the defender at the heart of so many flashpoints, rose to glance in Martin Odegaard’s 96th-minute corner and silence a stunned home crowd.
The victory ends Arsenal’s run of three straight defeats at this ground and trims the gap to leaders Liverpool to two points. It also handed Newcastle more stoppage-time anguish, with Eddie Howe’s side having led deep into the contest and defended doggedly behind an inspired Nick Pope—only to be undone by two corners after a night of fine margins and VAR debate.
Fine margins and boiling flashpoints define the night
Arsenal’s evening was immediately shaped by controversy. On the quarter-hour, Viktor Gyokeres appeared to be tripped by Pope, and Jarred Gillett pointed to the spot, only to reverse the decision after a lengthy pitch-side review and a stadium announcement that the goalkeeper had played the ball. Mikel Arteta was incensed, but crucially his players held their nerve amid the uproar.