Arsenal snatched a dramatic 2-1 victory over Newcastle United at St James’ Park on Sunday, with Gabriel Magalhães heading home deep into stoppage time to secure all three points.
The win lifts Arsenal to second place in the Premier League table with 13 points from six matches, just two behind leaders Liverpool. Newcastle, meanwhile, remain 15th with six points.
How the Game Unfolded
Newcastle drew first blood in the 34th minute when Nick Woltemade rose highest to head home from a short corner after a defensive error by Arsenal’s Cristhian Mosquera gifted the hosts the set-piece.
The Gunners dominated possession and created chances but were denied repeatedly by Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope and their own wastefulness in front of goal. Arsenal were also left frustrated after a VAR intervention overturned a penalty awarded when Pope appeared to bring down Viktor Gyokeres.
Despite the setbacks, Arsenal’s persistence paid off in the final minutes. Former Newcastle man Mikel Merino leveled the score with a glancing header in the 84th minute from Declan Rice’s cross. Then, in the 96th minute, Gabriel rose above the crowd to nod in Martin Ødegaard’s corner and spark jubilant celebrations.
Reactions
“Unbelievable, nothing better than a late winner in football. Speechless, I’m so happy,” Arsenal captain Bukayo Saka told Sky Sports after the match.
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe admitted his side fell short:
“Two really late goals here at home hurts. We have to reflect and acknowledge we weren’t at our best. There was no lack of effort, but from a footballing side, it wasn’t quite there. The weight of pressure eventually told.”
Key Takeaway
Arsenal showed resilience and fighting spirit to overturn a frustrating evening into a crucial victory. The late comeback keeps them firmly in the title race, while Newcastle must regroup after letting their lead slip in dramatic fashion.
