Arsenal produced a dramatic late turnaround to claim a vital 2-1 victory away at Newcastle United, with Mikel Merino and Gabriel Magalhães scoring in the final 10 minutes after Nick Woltemade’s first-half strike had put the hosts ahead.
The Gunners dominated large spells of the game, hitting the post through Leandro Trossard and seeing a first-half penalty overturned by VAR. But persistence paid off as Declan Rice’s pinpoint cross found Merino for the equaliser before Gabriel powered home a 96th-minute winner.
First-half frustration for Arsenal
Newcastle took the lead against the run of play in the 35th minute. From a well-worked short corner, Sandro Tonali combined with Anthony Gordon before crossing for Woltemade, who nodded past David Raya to score his second goal in as many home appearances.
Arsenal had earlier thought they’d won a penalty when Viktor Gyökeres was brought down by Nick Pope. Referee Jarred Gillett initially pointed to the spot but, after a VAR review and with his mic still live, explained to Bukayo Saka: “The goalkeeper got a toe on the ball before contact, that’s why.”
Despite registering 22 touches in Newcastle’s penalty area — the second-most by an away team in the league this season — Arsenal went in at the break behind.
Merino equalises against former club
Arsenal continued to pile on pressure in the second half, with William Saliba introduced for Cristian Mosquera to tighten the defence. Their breakthrough came in the 84th minute, courtesy of former Newcastle midfielder Mikel Merino.
From a short corner routine, Rice delivered an inviting cross which Merino met with a firm header into the far corner, leaving Pope with no chance.
Gabriel wins it at the death
With Newcastle pushing forward for a winner of their own, Arsenal struck in stoppage time. Gabriel Magalhães rose highest from a corner to thunder in a header, sealing all three points for Mikel Arteta’s side and sparking jubilant celebrations among the away fans.
Match stats: Newcastle vs Arsenal
| Stat | Newcastle | Arsenal |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | 36% | 64% |
| Expected Goals (xG) | 0.45 | 2.01 |
| Total Shots | 7 | 20 |
| Shots on Target | 3 | 7 |
| Big Chances | 1 | 3 |
| Blocked Shots | 3 | 6 |
| Shots Inside Box | 6 | 18 |
source: sofascore match data – 28 September 2025
The stats underline Arsenal’s dominance, with more possession, higher xG, and almost three times as many shots as Newcastle.
Analyst verdict
FootballPlace analyst John William called the victory “a statement result.” He said: “Arsenal showed patience and belief. To concede first away from home and still create 20 shots tells you about their control. Gabriel’s winner is the mark of champions — grinding out wins in tough places.”
On Newcastle, he added: “They defended bravely but couldn’t sustain it. Woltemade was a bright spark, but they were overwhelmed in the second half.”
Key insights
- Nick Woltemade scored his second Newcastle goal in as many home games.
- Arsenal had a first-half penalty overturned after VAR confirmed Nick Pope touched the ball.
- Mikel Merino equalised against his former club with a header in the 84th minute.
- Gabriel Magalhães completed the comeback with a 96th-minute header.
- Arsenal dominated xG (2.01 to 0.45) and shots (20 to 7).
What’s next?
Arsenal will look to carry this momentum into their midweek European clash before returning to Premier League action next weekend. For Newcastle, the focus turns to tightening their defensive shape and converting limited chances into points.
👉 Was Arsenal’s late turnaround a sign of resilience worthy of title contenders, or just Newcastle letting it slip in the dying moments?
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