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By ISAAN KHAN, REPORTER Published: 16: 00 AEST, 29 September 2025 | Updated: 16: 00 AEST, 29 September 2025 7 View comments Arsenal snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in front of a stunned St James' Park crowd as Mikel Arteta's side ran out the 2-1 winners against Eddie Howe's Newcastle on Sunday afternoon.   The visitors' trip to Tyneside was not without its challenges: within the first 15 minutes of the tie, the Gunners found themselves on the wrong side of a contentious refereeing decision that saw a penalty shout drawn from a foul on Viktor Gyokeres was overturned upon review.   Just past the half-an-hour mark, Newcastle punished them further, with Nick Woltemade netting the goal which handed the hosts the lead for much of the match.   With just six minutes of normal time however, Mikel Merino turned up the heat to provide the longed-for equaliser, before Gabriel secured all three points for Arsenal deep into injury time.   Here, Daily Mail Sport's ISAAN KHAN assesses the flashpoints from the breathless win that threw down the gauntlet to Premier League leaders Liverpool.   Handbrake? What handbrake? After deploying a midfield three of Martin Zubimendi, Declan Rice and Mikel Merino in the draw against Manchester City last weekend, and failing to go for the jugular at times, Mikel Arteta was pilloried for his defensive approach. Mikel Arteta has been accused of overly defensive tactics but his Arsenal side looked far punchier against Newcastle Their pressure told and Gabriel snatched a late winner for the visitors deep into injury time So much so, after his press conference on Tuesday, he remarked to reporters that he might deploy the ‘handbrake’ - as coined by Gary Neville when describing the performance - against Wednesday’s Carabao Cup match against Port Vale. The same accusation could not be fielded against Newcastle. The Spaniard played the effervescent Eberechi Eze in midfield instead of Merino, which showed attacking intent from the off. The Gunners started on the front foot and were mightily unlucky to not have gone ahead by half-time after Viktor Gyokeres’ penalty was overturned and Nick Pope’s sublime stops to deny Eze. By the end of the match, Arsenal had enjoyed 43 touches in the opposition box and 20 shots against Newcastle’s 17 and eight respectively. Yet, more tellingly, Arteta’s second-half substitutions reflected winning intent. He brought on Mikel Merino for Riccardo Calafiori after 70 minutes and Martin Odegaard for Martin Zubimendi 12 minutes later. Merino struck the equaliser, and Odegaard’s corner assisted Gabriel’s winning header. Both were a result of Arteta rolling the dice, an obvious learning from last weekend’s draw. The handbrake is well and truly off. When Arsenal initially looked at Eze in the summer, they saw him as an ideal option for their attacking midfield area after an impasse in contract negotiations with Ethan Nwaneri. Eze has often been deployed out wide for Arsenal, but on Sunday, in central midfield, he showed just where he feels most at home. Eberechi Eze was Arsenal's most creative influence on the pitch at St James' Park on Sunday He was their most creative influence, driving forward to create avenues for team-mates and carving out a couple of great chances for himself. The attacker was unlucky that his two first-half strikes didn’t result in at least a goal, his half-volley on 29 minutes in particular well-struck and expertly saved by Pope. Eze thrives in midfield and even though Martin Odegaard, who came off the bench on 82 minutes and assisted Gabriel’s winner, he should still be considered for that role. His pace, dribbling ability and threat on the edge of the area is a handful for opposition. As seen against Newcastle, the home side found it difficult in stopping him from getting play up the pitch and influencing the Gunners’ best scenarios in the attacking third. He has now bedded in and set to cause more havoc in the weeks to come. Having watched Liverpool score six goals so far this season from the 88th minute onwards, Arteta will have been acutely aware of the gauntlet that’s already been laid. An ability to stay in a match until the final whistle brings goals, and goals of course equalise or win matches. In a week where Liverpool dropped points, Arsenal learning from their last-minute form came at the best possible time It’s a feature of many a title-winning side, and a quality the Reds have already showed they have in spades. It makes the north London club’s 96th-minute winner, courtesy of Gabriel, a moment even more pertinent than stealing all three points today. The goal reflects Arsenal’s title credentials. Yes, it’s still early in the season, but nevertheless it shows that the Gunners have the mettle to hang in there and take risks. Risks which could be costly in a game - and yet be decisive, as seen against Newcastle. It’s a positive early sign for Arsenal. This could be the indication that they have the capability to go toe-to-toe with Arne Slot’s men this season. A word or three must be said on referee Jarred Gillett’s decision to overturn the first-half penalty he awarded Gyokeres. Latching onto Jacob Murphy’s poor back-pass, Gyokeres ran into the box before colliding with Pope who stuck his leg out. Viktor Gyokeres thought he might have won a penalty until referee Jarred Gillett intervened Gillett awarded a penalty, which he later overturned after a VAR review which showed the ball faintly deflecting off Pope’s leg. VAR was brought in to overturn ‘clear and obvious’ errors — this was not clear and obvious. It makes Gillett’s call to rescind the penalty harsh indeed, and a legitimate grievance which Arteta would no doubt have erupted on if his side hadn’t gone on to win the match. The rules around VAR continue to confuse all.

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