Arsenal pulled off a dramatic stoppage-time victory against Newcastle United, winning 2-1 in a thrilling Premier League encounter at St James’ Park. This victory narrows the gap between Arsenal and league leaders Liverpool to just two points, propelling Arsenal to second place with 13 points from six matches, while Newcastle lingers at 15th with six points.
Newcastle initially took the lead in the first half when Nick Woltemade scored with a header from a cross, capitalizing on Arsenal’s Cristhian Mosquera’s back-pass mistake. Arsenal struggled to convert their chances but remained resilient. Their persistence paid off late in the game: in the 84th minute, a header from Mikel Merino leveled the score, followed by Gabriel’s thrilling stoppage-time winner from a corner.
The match was marked by controversy as a potential penalty for Arsenal was overturned by VAR, which ruled that Newcastle’s goalkeeper Nick Pope had touched the ball before bringing down Viktor Gyokeres. Arsenal’s captain Bukayo Saka expressed his frustration, arguing that the long review indicated doubt over the decision.
Eddie Howe, Newcastle’s manager, acknowledged his team’s shortcomings, particularly in defending set-pieces which led to both Arsenal goals. He highlighted the areas needing improvement but also noted the strong collective effort despite the loss.
Arsenal’s heroics marked an emotional end to what had been a challenging match, teetering between frustration and jubilation. With their spirits lifted, Arsenal will be looking to maintain their momentum in upcoming fixtures as the competition intensifies at the top of the Premier League table.