Arsenal rallied from 1-0 down against Newcastle United to score two late goals and heap the pressure on league leaders Liverpool with a remarkable comeback at St James’ Park.
A fixture that has been full of needle in recent seasons more than delivered on drama, as Arsenal had an early penalty shout overturned when Nick Pope was judged to have touched the ball before bringing down Viktor Gyokeres in the area.
Pope produced multiple fine saves to keep the Magpies in it as Arsenal dominated proceedings, and it was summer signing Nick Woltemade who broke the deadlock against the run of play with a sweet first-half header to put the hosts in front - although that goal wasn’t without controversy either, as Arsenal unsuccessfully argued Woltemade had pushed Gabriel in the build-up.
Gabriel himself was lucky to escape punishment for a shove on the German, and he was ultimately the hero for Mikel Arteta’s men, heading home the stoppage-time winner after substitute Mikel Merino equalised late in normal time.
The result means Arsenal move up to second in the Premier League, just two points off leaders Liverpool, while Newcastle slip to 15th with just six points from six games.
Follow all the latest team news and updates from St James’ Park below:
Newcastle vs Arsenal LIVE
- Newcastle host Arsenal in Sunday's late kick-off in the Premier League | Live on Sky Sports, 4.30pm
- Newcastle XI: Pope; Livramento, Thiaw, Botman, Burn; Guimaraes, Tonali, Joelinton; Murphy, Woltemade, Gordon
- Arsenal XI: Raya; Timber, Mosquera, Gabriel, Calafiori; Zubimendi, Rice, Eze; Saka, Gyokeres, Trossard
- 5' SAVE! Pope gets fingertips to Eze effort to deny visitors' early opener [NEW 0-0 ARS]
- '17 PENALTY OVERTURNED! Drama as Pope brings down Gyokeres but VAR overturns original decision [NEW 0-0 ARS]
- '25 HITS THE POST! Fine strike by Trossard clatters off woodwork [NEW 0-0 ARS]
- '34 GOAL! Newcastle move ahead against run of play with fine Woltemade header [NEW 1-0 ARS]
- '85 GOAL! Substitute Merino pokes in equaliser from close range [NEW 1-1 ARS]
- '90+6 GOAL! Gabriel heads home last-gasp winner to complete stunning turnaround [NEW 1-2 ARS]
Newcastle United FC 1 - 2 Arsenal FC
Mikel Arteta’s finishers rewrite story in inspired comeback win over Newcastle
20:18 , Richard JollyIt was the same penalty box where Gabriel Magalhaes had ended up sprawling on the Tyneside turf some 90 minutes earlier. This time, he was rising highest, heading in Martin Odegaard’s corner, capping a dramatic fightback, securing the kind of flagship win that tends to be the hallmark of champions.
The Brazilian may have been culpable for Newcastle’s opener, when Nick Woltemade headed in as he fell. He might have been sent off for an elbow on the giant German. He survived a VAR review for a penalty for handling Anthony Elanga’s cross. He ended up the match-winner as David Raya ran 100 yards to join in the celebrations. It was that kind of confusing, chaotic afternoon.
“Unbelievable feeling,” said Mikel Arteta. “That is what football is about.”
For Newcastle, beaten in the 100th minute by Liverpool and the 96th by Arsenal when deserving to lose neither game, it was a horrible action replay. For Arteta, it was the sort of sequel he can savour.
Mikel Arteta’s finishers rewrite story in inspired comeback win over Newcastle
'You are always in the hands of VAR' - Eddie Howe
19:50 , Flo CliffordHowe is a bit more measured on the penalty controversy. He says: “You are always in the hands of VAR and I have to trust both decisions - one for us and one against us.”
Newcastle play on Thursday in the Champions League, and he says: “The game is a good thing. We have to look after today's painful defeat that we have another game soon after. We want to get confidence.”
Tino Livramento’s injury “doesn't sound great,” he adds. “The fact he came off on a stretcher is not looking good.”
'Little details have cost us' - Eddie Howe
19:43 , Flo CliffordEddie Howe tells Match of the Day: “Two really late goals here at home hurts. We have to reflect and acknowledge that we weren't at our best. There was not lack of effort but from a footballing side, it wasn't quite there.
“That was probably the key thing, the number of corners. I think Odegaard made a difference to their overall performance. The weight of pressure eventually told. No lack of effort but the little details have cost us.”
'We had to throw everything we had' - Mikel Arteta
19:36 , Flo CliffordWhat made the difference? Arteta says: “I think the way we played. The courage, the determination and the quality we played with today. We want to achieve the next level and to do that you have to come to these places and when there are some results yesterday, we wanted to show that conviction and desire to do it.
“You have to come to this place and you have to win. You have to find a way to do it and it was tremendous."
“We had to throw everything we had. I think Pope was exceptional. Fair play to him but we believed and I think we fully deserved to win it.”
'Massive opportunity to show who we are' - Mikel Arteta
19:29 , Flo CliffordArteta says: “Pride and I think we fully deserved the win. The way we played and performed and competed. The chances we generated, we deserved to win. We did it into a dramatic way but we deserved to win.
“That is how you get to a different level. By going through those moments and take those lessons from it. It was a massive opportunity to show who we are. For ourselves because they are a terrific team and they are so difficult to play against. The level of consistency and quality we showed today was top.”
Mikel Arteta weighs in on penalty debate
19:22 , Flo CliffordMikel Arteta thinks similarly. He tells Sky Sports: “If it is not a clear and obvious error, VAR should not intervene. It is clear that VAR does not have to intervene because it is a penalty.”
'These things always go against us' - Bukayo Saka
19:15 , Flo CliffordNow let’s chat all things penalty. Saka says: “The penalty, you know, for me, like if we have VAR for clear and obvious errors, and the fact that it took the ref that long to decide.
“So it's not a clear and obvious error, but it's things like this, these little things that always go against us. But I think today, we got what we deserved for sure.”
'Winning shows the character of the team' - Mikel Merino
19:08 , Flo CliffordAsked whether this result will mean more after slipping up elsewhere, Merino adds: “Maybe for the fans or you guys, not for us, we know how well we've been putting on the kind of performances we've been creating as well.
“Winning the way we won today shows the character of the team how much we trust each other, how confident we are. That doesn't change no matter the result. We are confident we have an amazing team, an amazing squad, amazing staff and amazing fans, so we are ready for it.”
'Magical' - Mikel Merino
19:01 , Flo CliffordMikel Merino adds: “As Buyako says it's unbelievable to win these kinds of games. Late winners are the best. But obviously from my perspective it's even greater coming back here is always big for me, big memories, amazing place in my life but also being able to score and help the team is incredible. Couldn't be better to win in the last minute and congrats to all the boys.
“Always coming here is great to see old faces, old friends. I've had amazing memories here. I've only been here one year but still it's a big part of my life and my career. To come here to score a winner, a header again in the same goal that I scored for Newcastle, is magical.”
(Merino played for Newcastle from 2017-18.)
'Unbelievable' - Bukayo Saka
18:54 , Flo CliffordBukayo Saka tells Sky Sports: “It's unbelievable. Late winners - there's nothing better in football. So speechless. I'm so happy. When you're on the bench and you can't control and affect the game, but when you have guys like this guy [Mikel Merino] - he's a big threat.”
FULL-TIME! Newcastle 1-2 Arsenal
18:35 , Richard JollyStunning turnaround by Arsenal and yet more crucial late goals for them, after Martinelli's equaliser against Manchester City. Suddenly this looks like a statement result for them and a horrible action replay for Newcastle, beaten very late on by Liverpool by a goal in the same penalty box.
FULL-TIME! Newcastle 1-2 Arsenal
18:33 , Flo Clifford90+9 mins: Newcastle attack, it gets thumped behind the goal but there’s a call for handball... cleared.
And that’s it! Roars from Arsenal. They certainly left it late.
Newcastle 1-2 Arsenal
18:31 , Flo Clifford90+6 mins: It’s another set-piece, Odegaard whips in the cross and Gabriel rises highest to knock it in!
GOAL! Newcastle 1-2 Arsenal
18:30 , Flo Clifford90+6 mins: Oh. My. Word.
Arsenal have nicked this at the death.
Newcastle 1-1 Arsenal
18:29 , Flo Clifford90+5 mins: Odegaard sends a fine ball down the left flank to Lewis-Skelly but Thiaw makes the crucial sliding block!
Arsenal corner... Pope punches it away, it comes back to Odegaard, cleared again, Merino tries once more and Pope sends it out. Breathless stuff. Lascelles eventually nods it behind for a corner.
Newcastle 1-1 Arsenal
18:27 , Flo Clifford90+4 mins: Rice whips in a cross but Pope leaps to catch - and Newcastle counter!
Lewis-Skelly is judged to have fouled Elanga.
Joelinton is replaced by Barnes. Minutes to go.
Newcastle 1-0 Arsenal
18:24 , Flo Clifford90 mins: Burn is booked for a foul.
Arteta frantically signals eight fingers to his men. EIGHT minutes added on.
Osula and Saliba go down in a heap. This is tense.
Newcastle 1-0 Arsenal
18:22 , Flo Clifford88 mins: Newcastle have a penalty appeal... Elanga’s shot bounces off Gabriel’s arm very awkwardly and there’s a check for handball, but VAR points out it took a deflection of his shin. No penalty.
Jason Tindall gets a yellow for getting involved in the debate.
Lewis-Skelly comes on for Trossard.
GOAL! Newcastle 1-1 Arsenal
18:18 , Flo Clifford85 mins: Joelinton goes into the book for kicking the ball away to delay an Arsenal free-kick, and sarcastically applauds the ref. Silly.
Thiaw, who has been pretty immaculate, stretches out a toe to deny Rice’s tempting pass across goal.
The resulting corner is played short, Newcastle bafflingly fail to clear, and Merino pokes the header in off the post! It looked like Pope assumed it was going out.
Newcastle 1-0 Arsenal
18:16 , Flo Clifford82 mins: This is Lascelles’ second appearance since March 2024.
Arsenal continue to pile on the pressure, Gyokeres jinks around a defender on the ground and blasts over the bar.... having taken a hand to the face from Lascelles just before. That’s poor.
Odegaard is on for Zubimendi. Kitchen sink?
Newcastle 1-0 Arsenal
18:11 , Flo Clifford77 mins: Oh dear, Livramento has been lifted onto a stretcher and is being taken off the pitch, covering his face with his hands. Huge worry for Newcastle and very unfortunate for a player who’s had so many injuries already. He gets an ovation from the crowd.
Lascelles is the man on in his stead, with Hall not on the subs’ bench today.
Newcastle 1-0 Arsenal
18:09 , Flo Clifford75 mins: Guimaraes has got the better of Timber and fist-pumped and shouted like he’s just won the game. Like the enthusiasm.
Now Livramento is receiving some medical attention on the pitch and he looks rather upset. He fell very awkwardly after competing for the ball in the air. Concerned faces all around and a break in play.
Newcastle 1-0 Arsenal
18:07 , Richard JollyI'm trying to work out who is playing where for Arsenal now. And so, seemingly, are they after the left-back Calafiori went off. Trossard may be filling in. Or it could be three at the back. Arteta has done quite a lot of pointing.
Newcastle 1-0 Arsenal
18:05 , Flo Clifford72 mins: Pope catches Rice’s delivery. Saliba takes out Livramento as the ball goes sailing over the Arsenal man’s head. Silly.
Newcastle 1-0 Arsenal
18:04 , Flo Clifford70 mins: Timber escapes from Joelinton at the sideline and Saka works it forward, it takes a deflection en route to Gyokeres, but he can’t wrap his feet around it and Burn tidily dinks it away.
Changes for Arsenal: Saka and Calafiori come off, Martinelli and Merino come on.
Now Gyokeres flashes wide on the turn! Corner to Arsenal...
Newcastle 1-0 Arsenal
18:03 , Richard JollyNewcaslte have taken their whole front three off and - unlike at the start - gone to a wing-back formation. Woltemade was terrific, with some of his hold-up play and close control really impressive.
Newcastle 1-0 Arsenal
18:00 , Flo Clifford67 mins: Gyokeres heads away the resulting corner from Tonali.
Burn peels himself off the grass after going down from a shirt-pull by Calafiori, fighting for an aerial ball.. and there are some words exchanged.
Changes for Newcastle: Murphy, whose return from an Achilles injury is being carefully managed, goalscorer Woltemade - who is making friends here - and Gordon are off. Trippier, Osula, and Elanga on.
Newcastle 1-0 Arsenal
17:58 , Flo Clifford64 mins: Gabriel heads across goal and Timber is close to goal again, but sends it off target.
Arsenal bizarrely want a penalty for holding at the corner. Desperate times, etc.
Now Newcastle counter with Murphy absolutely powering down the pitch, but Rice gets himself into the way and blocks his shot!
Newcastle 1-0 Arsenal
17:56 , Richard JollyNick Pope was at the centre of the early controversy with the penalty that wasn't, and which no doubt annoyed Arsenal, but he has been terrific since then, saving from Eze, Saka and Timber. It's worth remembering Newcastle may have replaced him in the summer with James Trafford. Instead, Pope has begun this season in terrific form.
SAVE! Newcastle 1-0 Arsenal
17:53 , Flo Clifford60 mins: Best chance for Arsenal in a while! Beautiful little dink over the top by Zubimendi and Timber is through on goal, mere yards out - but Pope just about gets his fingertips to it and bends it around the post!
Newcastle 1-0 Arsenal
17:52 , Richard JollyRichard Jolly, at St James’ Park, says: “A big second half for Arsenal. They played well in many respects in the first but they may not be able to afford another setback in a title push that has begun in faltering fashion. After Liverpool lost yesterday, this is a chance to make up ground.”
CLOSE! Newcastle 1-0 Arsenal
17:50 , Flo Clifford57 mins: Calafiori is first into the book for getting in a tangle with Livramento.
Murphy’s inswinging cross is headed clear by Gabriel, but Gordon counters... Joelinton flashes a low strike across the face of goal and wide!
Newcastle 1-0 Arsenal
17:49 , Flo Clifford55 mins: Opening for Newcastle as Gordon plays a tidy low ball into the box, but doesn’t have a team-mate in space.
Arsenal counter, Trossard crosses in, Eze catches it on the half-volley but blasts over the bar.
Newcastle 1-0 Arsenal
17:46 , Flo Clifford52 mins: Calafiori floats the ball in but Thiaw sticks to Gyokeres well and nullifies the danger momentarily as the ball bounces out. Corner to Arsenal...
Rice plays it in but despite the mass of bodies in the box it heads out.
CLOSE! Newcastle 1-0 Arsenal
17:40 , Flo Clifford46 mins: An action-packed start! Newcastle take advantage of a total mess in Arsenal’s midfield, Livramento starting the move and Murphy working the ball forward... Saliba makes a hash of trying to clear it, Woltemade strikes but it clatters off the crossbar! He’s flat on his back in frustration. Murphy was offside anyway.
SECOND HALF: Newcastle 1-0 Arsenal
17:38 , Flo CliffordWilliam Saliba replaces Cristhian Mosquera, who was at fault for the corner leading to Newcastle’s goal with a poor backpass.
HALF-TIME: Newcastle 1-0 Arsenal
17:28 , Flo CliffordNick Woltemade’s second Premier League goal for the Magpies is the difference; the 6’6” German may not be primarily known as an aerial threat but both his goals so far have been headers.
A couple of contentious moments in a needle-heavy first half, most notably the overturned penalty when Nick Pope was judged to have got a touch of the ball before bringing down Viktor Gyokeres in the box. Mikel Arteta was not pleased and Arsenal didn’t really recover their composure after that.
Newcastle 1-0 Arsenal
17:23 , Flo Clifford45+7 mins: Arsenal are still piling on the pressure but aren’t getting anywhere, Burn getting a rare win over Saka and booting the ball down the other end of the pitch.
Now down the other end, Livramento plays it to Murphy, who lobs in a cross - too deep and there’s no-one there anyway.
That’s the last action of the half! Anddddd breathe.
Newcastle 1-0 Arsenal
17:19 , Flo Clifford45+3 mins: Gordon is brought down by Saka but the Arsenal man escapes a booking. Tonali, by the way, is back on.
Newcastle 1-0 Arsenal
17:17 , Flo Clifford
Newcastle 1-0 Arsenal
17:16 , Flo Clifford45 mins: Turns out Gabriel in fact pushed Woltemade in the face, with the German refusing a handshake afterwards, which feels fair enough.
SEVEN minutes added on to this half.
Newcastle 1-0 Arsenal
17:13 , Flo Clifford43 mins: Newcastle drive forward and look promising but Arsenal get bodies back in spades... Tonali takes a ball straight in the face, poor bloke, and Gyokeres steals a march, speeding back towards goal, but Thiaw does well to stick with him and eventually pick his pocket.
There’s now a break in play for Tonali to receive some attention and for Woltemade and Gabriel to resume their bickering.
Newcastle 1-0 Arsenal
17:10 , Richard JollyRichard Jolly reports: “Nick Woltemade is extremely tall but not really a target man. Newcastle have nonetheless used his height. Both of his goals so far have been headers. Arsenal, the team who tended to score from set-pieces, have conceded from one.”
Newcastle 1-0 Arsenal
17:08 , Flo Clifford37 mins: There’s an argument from Arsenal that Woltemade pushed Gabriel in the lead-up to that goal... the ref isn’t having it and nor are VAR, it was too gentle a touch for him to go to ground over.
The visitors have a corner but it’s headed away.
GOAL! Newcastle 1-0 Arsenal
17:06 , Flo Clifford34 mins: It’s summer signing Woltemade who breaks the deadlock! Against all odds Newcastle are ahead.
Newcastle earn a corner, Tonali and Gordon play a one-two before the Italian whips it in, and it’s the towering Herman who rises highest to head past Raya!
Newcastle 0-0 Arsenal
17:05 , Richard JollyMore from Richard Jolly:
“Arsenal have looked more of a threat in open play with Eze in the team and one fewer defensive midfielder. It does feel like a shift in emphasis from solidity to attack, even if they are yet to be rewarded with a goal. Eze has twice come close.”
Newcastle 0-0 Arsenal
17:03 , Flo Clifford33 mins: Saka gets the better of Burn again down the right but Pope is in position to make the clearance. Newcastle are clinging on here. Saka now whacks in a very deep cross that goes nowhere.
Penny for this man’s thoughts...
Newcastle 0-0 Arsenal
17:02 , Flo Clifford31 mins: A ball-boy is enlisted to return the towel to Pope, who sends a long ball down towards Gordon - but Raya races out to get there first.
SAVE! Newcastle 0-0 Arsenal
17:00 , Flo Clifford29 mins: Calafiori has somehow acquired Pope’s towel and appears to get a telling off from the ref for it as he attempts to dry the ball before taking a throw-in.
Another brilliant move by Eze, who lashes it goalward from a central position in the box. Pope, who some may say is lucky to still be on the pitch, dives to his right and gets two hands to palm it away!
HITS THE POST! Newcastle 0-0 Arsenal
16:57 , Flo Clifford25 mins: Huge chance for Arsenal! A rapid-fire, flowing attack comes to Trossard on the left flank, but his strike cannons off the post!
Just before that Rice worked a deep free-kick to Gyokeres, with Calafiori getting a flick-on from the Swede’s header across goal but sending it wide.
Gordon now fires a tame attempt straight at Raya.
Newcastle 0-0 Arsenal
16:55 , Flo Clifford24 mins: Arsenal, by the way, are playing with black armbands on in memory of 21-year-old former academy player Billy Vigar, who tragically died after colliding with a concrete wall during a match.
Newcastle 0-0 Arsenal
16:53 , Flo Clifford22 mins: Now there are shouts (bad ones) from the home crowd as Murphy blocks Gabriel’s clearance in the box, with the ball clattering into the Arsenal player’s arm as he tries to avoid it. The ref says no chance.
Tonali’s corner is headed away from the near post.
Newcastle 0-0 Arsenal
16:50 , Flo CliffordRichard Jolly reports from St James’ Park: “Mikel Arteta had his heads in his hands, smiling in disbelief when the penalty was overturned. He does have a history of disagreeing with refereeing decisions at St James' Park, though.”
PENALTY OVERTURNED! Newcastle 0-0 Arsenal
16:48 , Flo Clifford“The Newcastle keeper plays the ball and there is no foul,” is Gillett’s final decision after the VAR review. Arteta has got the most insincere smile known to man on his face.
PENALTY CHECK! Newcastle 0-0 Arsenal
16:46 , Flo Clifford16 mins: Murphy plays a bad backpass to his keeper and it looked like Pope panicked a little bit, bringing Gyokeres down with his knee as the Swede raced towards him.
Jarred Gillett is heading to the screen as there’s a debate over whether Pope got to the ball first...
PENALTY! Newcastle 0-0 Arsenal
16:44 , Flo Clifford14 mins: A busy first quarter of an hour. The Newcastle corner isn’t initially cleared and Rice gets high-fives all round for a tidy header to send it behind for another.... and then another...
Tonali rises under the bar but Raya punches it away with one hand.
It’s immediately up the other end, Pope is one on one with Gyokeres in the box and brings the striker down... penalty to Arsenal!
Newcastle 0-0 Arsenal
16:42 , Flo Clifford11 mins: The volume cranks up a bit as Woltemade and Gordon drive forward. Burn is on the overlap and Murphy - offside anyway - recycles his cross back into the box, but Timber heads it behind ahead of the towering defender.
Corner to the hosts... Thiaw gets a head to it but Raya catches!
Newcastle 0-0 Arsenal
16:40 , Flo Clifford8 mins: Now Saka darts around Burn but his close-range effort meets Pope’s gloves at the near post.
Botman clings to Gyokeres like a limpet as he attacks down the left flank and the Swede has a shot blocked.
Newcastle 0-0 Arsenal
16:37 , Flo CliffordRichard Jolly reports from St James’ Park:
“So much for the theory Newcastle would play 3-5-2... It's a back four, which means Dan Burn is at left-back, up against Bukayo Saka. Could be interesting. Arsenal are 4-2-3-1 with Eze as a No 10.”
CLOSE! Newcastle 0-0 Arsenal
16:36 , Flo Clifford5 mins: Livramento adjusts his socks ahead of a leisurely throw-in. It doesn’t go anywhere and Raya flings it way up the pitch for Gyokeres, but the summer signing doesn’t get there in time.
Arsenal build, a cross takes a deflection en route to Eze, who lashes a low ball goalward. Pope does superbly to get his fingertips to it and push it wide!
Newcastle 0-0 Arsenal
16:33 , Flo Clifford2 mins: Crunch! Joelinton brings down Saka with a rather robust challenge. No cards whipped out just yet, but Arteta doesn’t look best pleased with that.
The resulting Rice free-kick is headed down by Gyokeres, but it’s straight into the hands of Pope.
Newcastle 0-0 Arsenal
16:31 , Flo CliffordFalse start! Eze retakes it, and we’re underway at St James’ Park.
Newcastle vs Arsenal
16:29 , Flo CliffordThe teams are out, moments to go...
Team news reminder
16:25 , Flo CliffordNewcastle XI: Pope, Murphy, Thiaw, Botman, Burn, Livramento,Tonali, Guimaraes, Joelinton, Gordon, Woltemade
Subs: Ramsdale, Trippier, Lascelles, Barnes, Krafth, Osula,Elanga, Willock, Miley
Arsenal XI: Raya, Timber, Mosquera, Gabriel, Calafiori, Zubimendi, Rice, Eze, Saka, Gyokeres, Trossard
Subs: Kepa, Saliba, Lewis-Skelly, White, Odegaard, Norgaard, Merino, Martinelli, Dowman
Has Mikel Arteta taken the handbrake off?
15:38 , Richard Jolly at St James's ParkHere’s Richard Jolly from inside St James’s Park:
“Mikel Arteta may have listened to his critics because he seems to have abandoned the policy of picking three defensive midfielders to start Eberechi Eze ahead of Mikel Merino. The Newcastle teamsheet is intriguing. It could be 3-5-2 with Jacob Murphy and Tino Livramento as wing-backs. Eddie Howe likes fielding three centre-backs against Arsenal.”
Newcastle vs Arsenal LIVE
13:58 , Chris WilsonGood afternoon and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of today’s match between Newcastle and Arsenal in the Premier League.
The Gunners travel up north looking to keep up the pressure on leaders Liverpool, while the Magpies are hoping to rise from 13th after earning just six points from their opening five games.
We’ll have all the latest build-up, team news and updates here.
