The match, a famously feisty fixture, lived up to its billing, marked by contentious decisions and relentless effort from both teams.
Magpies Strike First Amidst Controversy
The first half was characterized by Arsenal's frustration and Newcastle's typical resilience. The visitors felt aggrieved midway through the half when a penalty awarded for a foul on Viktor Gyökeres by goalkeeper Nick Pope was controversially overturned by VAR, much to the fury of the Arsenal bench.
Despite the near-miss, it was Newcastle who took the lead in the 34th minute. New signing Nick Woltemade rose highest from a corner delivered by Sandro Tonali to nod the ball past David Raya, sending the home crowd into raptures. The goal rewarded Newcastle's disciplined defensive shape and their clinical use of a set-piece, allowing them to take a hard-earned 1-0 lead into the break.
The Late, Late Show
In the second half, Arsenal ramped up the pressure, dominating possession and laying siege to the Newcastle goal. Goalkeeper Nick Pope put on a heroic display, making several crucial saves to keep the home side in front, with Leandro Trossard hitting the post in a moment of near-miss drama.
However, the pressure finally told in the final minutes.
The Equalizer (84'): Declan Rice, who fought tirelessly in midfield, delivered a precise cross into the box. Substitute Mikel Merino, a familiar name to Premier League fans, connected with a glancing header that flew into the bottom corner to silence the St. James' Park faithful and level the scores at 1-1.
The Winner (90+6'): Just as the game seemed destined for a draw, Arsenal were awarded a corner deep into stoppage time. Martin Ødegaard curled in a sublime delivery, and central defender Gabriel Magalhães rose highest to power a header home, sealing the 2-1 victory and sparking pandemonium in the away end.
The result is a huge statement win for Arsenal, who capitalize on title rivals dropping points this weekend to move up the Premier League table. For Newcastle, it is a painful defeat that highlights the fine margins in the race for European places, leaving them to rue the stoppage-time collapse.