96th minute Arsenal goal: Arsenal win against Newcastle 2-1 after dramatic comeback

St. James’ Park held its breath as the 96th minute Arsenal goal changed everything. In a game that swung on set-pieces and grit, an Arsenal win against Newcastle was carved out at the very end. Here’s what built to that moment, and why it mattered.

Arsenal kept knocking and finally found a route back on 84’. From another short corner, Declan Rice shaped the angle and Mikel Merino glanced a clever header beyond Nick Pope to level it. With the clock red, the visitors piled on set-piece pressure. A final corner from the left was whipped in by Ødegaard; Gabriel rose highest and powered a header past Pope on 96’, redeeming his earlier lapse on Woltemade’s opener and sealing all three points.

Beyond the drama, the pattern told a story: Arsenal controlled territory, recycled attacks, and used short corners to pull markers out before attacking the six-yard box. Newcastle’s defensive work was brave, Pope outstanding, and transitions dangerous, but they couldn’t close the final moments. Reports on the ground highlighted intense VAR debates, late substitutions, and a frantic tempo that suited Arsenal’s relentlessness in stoppage time.

Takeaway: big games often hinge on details you can repeat. Arsenal’s late surge wasn’t a fluke, it was their set-piece specialty showing up again. Angle the corner, attack the six-yard box, win the second contact, repeat.