Gabriel completes Arsenal turnaround with last-gasp Newcastle winner - 5 talking points

Arsenal took all three points at St James' Park in dramatic fashion thanks to Gabriel's last-gasp winner. The defender headed home from Martin Odegaard's corner to seal victory.

Mikel Merino had equalised with six minutes of normal time remaining, nodding in off the post from Declan Rice's cross.

It came after Nick Woltemade had put Newcastle in front in the first half, heading home from Sandro Tonali's excellent delivery following a well-worked short corner.

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Arsenal thought they had a penalty before that after Viktor Gyokeres was felled by Nick Pope only for VAR to intervene.

But Gabriel's late winner means Arsenal are now just two points behind Liverpool at the top of the Premier League.

Tino Livramento also left the field on a stretcher in what looks to be a huge blow for Newcastle.

Here are five talking points from St James' Park...

1. Clear and obvious?

In a surprise to precisely nobody, we had a VAR furore in the opening quarter of this one.

Jacob Murphy's badly underhit backpass left Nick Pope scrambling and he seemed to bring down Viktor Gyokeres with the Arsenal striker bearing down on goal.

Referee Jarred Gillett, who has previous with the Gunners, pointed to the spot and the only question appeared to be whether or not Pope would stay on the field.

But Gillett was summoned to the screen after VAR spotted the slightest of touches on the ball. The decision was subsequently overturned. A clear and obvious error? Not for me, Clive.

2. Towel gate

Long throw-ins are back in vogue in the Premier League. Somewhere, Tony Pulis and Rory Delap are feeling an extreme sense of vindication.

There was a lighter moment in the first half as Riccardo Calafiori tried his luck at getting an advantage before launching the ball into the box from the touchline.

The Arsenal defender spotted Nick Pope's towel behind the byline and went to retrieve it in order to give the ball a wipe before taking the throw-in.

But the ref was having none of it, blowing his whistle and telling him to place it back down where he found it.

"You can't be nicking towels off the English," quipped Gary Neville on commentary.

3. Set piece again (ole ole)

Gabriel's winner was a path well-trodden for Arsenal. It is yet another goal from a set piece as he climbed highest to nod home Martin Odegaard's corner.

But despite being on the back foot for the first half hour, it was Newcastle who broke the deadlock through their giant centre forward Nick Woltemade - beating Arsenal at their own game.

It came from a corner which was needlessly given away. Cristhian Mosquera tried to play what should have been a simple backpass to David Raya but sliced it horribly behind.

Newcastle worked it short, and Sandro Tonali delivered a pinpoint cross on to the head of Woltemade who made no mistake.

Arsenal wanted a VAR review for a push in the back of Gabriel, but contact was minimal and the goal was given.

4. Pope blots copybook

His dubiously overturned transgression on Viktor Gyokeres aside, Nick Pope was superb between the sticks for Newcastle - right up until the dying embers.

He saved brilliantly from Ebere Eze in the opening stages and kept out a point-blank header from Jurrien Timber on the hour mark.

They were just two of five saves he made during the course of the game but he was powerless to stop Mikel Merino's header bouncing in off the post.

However, he will be disappointed with his role in the winner, coming off his line to try and punch the ball but getting nowhere near it.

5. Arsenal stop St James' Park rot

In the most dramatic fashion, Arsenal ended a run of four successive defeats at St James' Park in all competitions.

They were beaten in both the league and Carabao Cup last term and were winless on Tyneside since May 2023.

But this is a result that leaves the Gunners second in the league and two points off the pace.

It was a golden opportunity to cut the gap to Liverpool after the Reds' defeat at Selhurst Park on Saturday, and Gabriel ensured it was taken at the death.

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