Sometimes football makes no sense. After the criticism directed at Mikel Arteta for being overly cautious in big matches, this time he chose to be more daring in his selections—and Arsenal indeed looked more convincing against Newcastle United. Yet, the team found itself trailing by a goal with just 10 minutes left. Fifteen minutes later, they walked off the pitch with a 2–1 victory and three valuable points.
“It’s an unbelievable feeling,” said the Spanish coach at the press conference, adding: “This is football. When you get what you deserve in the final moments, there’s no better feeling,” according to The Athletic.
Arteta’s bold changes—especially in midfield—gave the team a different dimension. Declan Rice, Martín Zubimendi, and Eberechi Eze formed a trio that differed not only from the matches against Liverpool and Manchester City (where Mikel Merino started), but also from Arsenal’s performances at St. James’ Park in the past two seasons. In 2023–2024, the team didn’t register a single shot on target there, and the following season managed only one successful attempt in the league and three in a League Cup semi-final loss. This time, in just 30 minutes, Eze forced two brilliant saves from Nick Pope, Leandro Trossard hit the post, and Bukayo Saka posed a constant threat down the right flank.
But all of that nearly unraveled when Cristian Mosquera made a poor back pass, followed by Gabriel’s lapse in marking, allowing Nick Voltemade to score with a header. Despite playing better than they had against Liverpool and City, Arsenal found themselves behind again. And when a penalty for Viktor Gyökeres was overturned, it felt as though fate was against Arteta’s players.
After the match, the coach explained that “understanding the nature of games is the key to winning.” He emphasized that while some elements—like formations or lineups—can be unpredictable, there are constants that must be adhered to if the team wants to win. He praised the number of chances created and the quality of his players’ performance from start to finish.
Arteta had struggled at St. James’ Park since Eddie Howe took over Newcastle in 2021. In May 2022, Arsenal suffered a painful 0–2 defeat there—a lesson in handling away games. The following season showed improvement, and this time, Arteta approached the stadium’s intense atmosphere differently. He even said he watched Newcastle’s recent Champions League match against Barcelona with the volume turned up to fully experience the emotional intensity, which he considers essential for decision-making.
Arsenal’s late comeback wasn’t just about goals—it was about solving problems that arose during the match, not just those they had prepared for. After the overturned penalty, the players stayed calm, and the substitutions opened new tactical possibilities. Instead of like-for-like changes, Arteta reshaped the team.
Merino and Gabriel Martinelli replaced Ricardo Calafiori and Saka, abandoning the original formation. Rice and Eze executed a short corner that led to Zubimendi’s equalizing header. Then, Myles Lewis-Skelly added attacking depth after replacing Trossard, setting up a sequence of corners that ended with Gabriel’s decisive goal.
On a weekend when Liverpool stumbled for the first time, it seemed Arsenal might waste the opportunity. But they fought to the end and secured a win reminiscent of Liverpool’s own this season—hard-fought, late, and emotionally significant.
Arteta acknowledged the team had learned from past experiences: “To reach the next level, we must learn. We’ve been through different and difficult moments here, and today the team showed who we are, what we aspire to, and how we want to play. And we did it exceptionally.”
The victory was more a display of mental strength than technical superiority—a message that Arsenal is no longer the team that collapses under pressure, but one that can endure, adapt, and overturn the odds, even in the toughest stadiums.
