Late goals from Merino and Gabriel turn the tide as Arteta’s men close the gap on Liverpool
Arsenal staged a remarkable late turnaround at St James’ Park, snatching a 2-1 victory over Newcastle United to keep their Premier League title ambitions alive. With Liverpool slipping up against Crystal Palace, the Gunners seized the chance to cut the gap at the top to just two points — and they did it dramatically.
For most of the night, it seemed destined to be Newcastle’s evening. Nick Woltemade’s powerful first-half header had given the hosts a deserved lead, while Arsenal saw chances go begging. Leandro Trossard struck the post, and Nick Pope denied Eberechi Eze and Jurrien Timber with superb saves. To make matters worse, a first-half penalty awarded to Arsenal was overturned by VAR after Pope tangled with Viktor Gyökeres.
But Mikel Arteta’s side, renowned for their resilience and set-piece strength, refused to fold. With just six minutes of normal time left, substitute Mikel Merino, a former Newcastle midfielder, rose to meet Declan Rice’s clever delivery from a short corner, glancing the ball in off the post to silence the home crowd.
That equaliser only fuelled Arsenal’s momentum. Deep into stoppage time, another substitute, Martin Ødegaard, provided the cross for Gabriel to power home a near-post header and send the away fans into raptures. Arteta, who has suffered painful defeats at St James’ Park in recent years, celebrated wildly on the touchline.
The victory highlighted Arsenal’s remarkable set-piece record, they have now scored 36 goals from corners since the start of the 2023-24 season, far more than any other side. But it was their mentality as much as their tactics that impressed pundits. “To win in the manner we have done it, wow, what a feeling,” Arteta told Match of the Day. “That is how you get to a different level.”
For Newcastle, the defeat was a bitter pill. Eddie Howe’s team had poured intensity into the contest, driven on by a febrile St James’ crowd, only to be undone at the death. “We are competitors. We want to win,” Joelinton had declared before kick-off, and for much of the match, it looked like they would.
Yet Arsenal’s ability to dig deep under pressure once again showed why they are firmly in the title race. Former England striker Ellen White praised their resilience, calling the display “grit, determination, and togetherness” in one of the league’s toughest arenas.
In the end, Arsenal didn’t just take three points. They made a statement, that this season, they have both the quality and mentality to go the distance.
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