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Arsenal edged Newcastle 2-1 with a stoppage-time winner.
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Gabriel Magalhaes scored after Mikel Merino had levelled.
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The victory keeps Arsenal in the title race.
Arsenal struck twice in the closing minutes to beat Newcastle 2-1 at St. James’ Park on Sunday and move within two points of the leaders.
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The late show came a day after Liverpool lost to Crystal Palace and kept Arsenal firmly in the title picture.
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Newcastle opened the scoring when their summer signing Nick Woltemade found the net against the run of play in the first half.
For long stretches Arsenal controlled possession and probed steadily but failed to create clear chances.
Then, on 84 minutes, Mikel Merino redirected a header to level the game. It looked like both teams would share the points.
Arsenal would not accept a draw. In the sixth minute of added time Gabriel Magalhaes rose to head a dramatic winner that sent the travelling fans into raptures.
The win carried extra weight because Arsenal had lost at St. James’ Park on each of their previous three visits i.e since 2003, a run that had cast doubt over their title credentials.
Arteta reflected on the victory and the club’s progress.
“We discussed that to go to the next level, first of all, you have to learn from the past and certainly we take some lessons and very sore different and sore moments in this ground,” – said Arteta of the Gunners ending their Newcastle hoodoo.
“Today was an opportunity that the game brings you again in a really important week in the Premier League after all the tough places that we’ve already been, very early in the season, to show who we are, who do we want to be, our ambition, and the way that we want to play. I think the team showed that today in a remarkable way.”
For Newcastle, the result felt painfully familiar after last month’s late drama when Liverpool scored a 100th-minute winner at St. James’ Park.
Eddie Howe spoke plainly.
“Two really late goals here at home hurts. We have to reflect and acknowledge that we weren’t at our best,” — said Howe.
“There was not lack of effort but from a footballing side, it wasn’t quite there.” – he added.
Ultimately, the result keeps Arsenal close to the front and underlines their steady progress after three successive second-place finishes.
Confidence should rise as the Gunners head into a key run of fixtures that could define their title bid.
