Arsenal secured a dramatic 2-1 victory against Newcastle United at St. James' Park on Sunday, thanks to a last-gasp header from Gabriel in the 96th minute. The win marked Arsenal's first in four visits to the stadium.
The match was a pulsating encounter, with Newcastle taking the lead in the 34th minute through Nick Woltemade's header. Despite dominating for long periods, Arsenal struggled to break down a stubborn Newcastle defense. Former Newcastle player Mikel Merino equalized for Arsenal in the 84th minute, setting up a tense finish.
In the dying moments of the game, Arsenal's Gabriel rose highest to head home from a Martin Odegaard corner, sending the away fans into raptures. The goal sparked wild celebrations as Arsenal snatched a vital three points.
The victory sees Arsenal move up to second in the Premier League standings, closing the gap on Liverpool to two points. It was a significant win for Mikel Arteta's side, who had previously struggled at St. James' Park.
The game was not without controversy, as Gabriel appeared to catch Woltemade with a flailing arm earlier in the match. However, the defender's late heroics ensured that Arsenal left Tyneside with all three points.
Arsenal had to come from behind to secure the win, after Woltemade's first-half header put Newcastle in the lead. Nick Pope, Newcastle's goalkeeper, made a brilliant save early on to deny Eberechi Eze. Raya, Arsenal's goalkeeper, also made a routine save from Malick Thiaw's header. Pope also managed to avoid conceding a penalty after a challenge on Viktor Gyokeres.
Mikel Merino's equalizing goal against his former club set up a grandstand finish, before Gabriel's late header sealed the win for Arsenal. The Gunners' victory was well-deserved, as they had dominated for much of the match.
The win is a major boost for Arsenal, who are looking to challenge for the Premier League title this season. It also marked a significant turnaround in their fortunes at St. James' Park, where they had previously struggled.