Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta, insisted his side “fully deserved” their 2-1 comeback victory over Newcastle, a result that saw the Gunners recover from an early deficit in dramatic fashion.
Nick Woltemade had given the Magpies the lead against the run of play, heading home Sandro Tonali’s cross in the first half.
However, Arsenal responded strongly, with Mikel Merino restoring parity before Gabriel’s stoppage-time header sealed all three points for the North London club.
The win moves Arsenal to within two points of league leaders Liverpool, who were held to a 2-1 defeat by Crystal Palace on Saturday.
Reflecting on the hard-fought win, Arteta praised his team’s performance.
“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 taking the lessons from it. It was a massive opportunity to make a statement and to prove to everybody and ourselves the team that we are.
“They (Newcastle) are a terrific team and they are so difficult to play against. The level of consistency and quality we showed today was top.
“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.”
Arsenal now turn their attention to the Champions League, hosting Greek giants Olympiacos in midweek.
