Newcastle 1-2 Arsenal: Report, result and goals as Gunners claim huge comeback win

Arsenal produced a stirring late comeback to stun Newcastle United with a 2-1 victory at St James’ Park that moves them within two points of champions Liverpool at the top of the Premier League.

The Gunners headed to St James’ Park with extra motivation after Liverpool fell to a surprise 2-1 loss at Crystal Palace, but made the trip to Tyneside with demons to banish having lost four of their last five away games at Newcastle.

It appeared as if it would be a familiar story for Mikel Arteta’s side as, after controversially seeing a first-half penalty award overturned following a Nick Pope challenge on Viktor Gyokeres, Nick Woltemade powered Newcastle ahead with a 34th-minute header.

But Arsenal produced a response to turn around a game they likely would have lost last season, their late pressure telling as former Newcastle midfielder Mikel Merino headed them level in the 84th minute before Gabriel, who took issue with Woltemade’s conduct on the opening goal, nodded in from a corner in the sixth of eight additional minutes to secure what could prove to be a crucial win in the title race.

Newcastle United v Arsenal

Contrary to most of their recent visits to Tyneside, Arsenal flew out of the blocks and would have taken the lead had Pope not gotten down to his left to turn Eberechi Eze’s superb low drive around the post.

It looked as if Arsenal’s early superiority would be rewarded when Gyokeres went down under Pope’s challenge, but a lengthy consultation with the VAR at the pitchside monitor brought an overturn from Gillett, accompanied by delight from the home crowd and fury from Arsenal.

Still, Arsenal continued in the ascendancy, with Trossard thundering against the near post before an Eze volley brought more brilliant goalkeeping from Pope.

Pope was called into action again to deny Saka after a lengthy surge down the right from the England forward, and Arsenal were left bemoaning their luck when Woltemade punished their profligacy.

Cristhian Mosquera clumsily gave away a corner when he sliced an aimless long ball behind. After a short-corner routine, Sandro Tonali whipped in an in-swinging delivery and Woltemade rose to power the ball into the bottom-left corner.

Arsenal complained that Woltemade had pushed Gabriel to the ground in the act of scoring, but the referee and VAR dismissed their protestations, stating that the German had made “minimal contact” with the Brazilian.

Newcastle improved after going ahead and Woltemade struck the crossbar shortly after the break, though the flag had been raised for offside.

Arsenal soon resumed dominance of possession, however, and more Pope heroics were required to keep out a close-range Jurrien Timber header.

Newcastle’s rearguard effort was dealt a significant setback when full-back Tino Livramento was taken off on a stretcher and, seven minutes after his exit the Gunners finally got their leveller when Merino met an in-swinging Declan Rice delivery with a superb header into the bottom-right corner.

The hosts responded aggressively and had a huge appeal for a penalty dismissed by Gillett and by VAR despite Anthony Elanga’s effort striking Gabriel’s hand. The VAR ruled Gabriel had deflected the ball onto his hand in the act of making a challenge on Elanga.

Defensively, Newcastle saw out most of stoppage time with little incident, but a poor clearance from the otherwise excellent Pope invited what proved to be the telling Arsenal attack, with Gabriel rising to head beyond the stranded goalkeeper from Martin Odegaard’s corner.