Mikel Arteta said that his Arsenal side had shown the Premier League “who we are” after they reinforced their title credentials by coming from behind to register a statement win at Newcastle on Sunday, 28 September.
“It was an opportunity to show who we are, the way we want to be and the way we want to play,” said a smiling Arteta. “And the team has done that in a remarkable way.”
Arsenal’s manager saw Newcastle take the lead through Nick Woltemade’s first half goal before Mikel Merino’s 84th-minute equaliser and Gabriel’s 96th minute winner changed the narrative.
“It’s an unbelievable feeling,” said Arteta. “That’s what football is all about. When you get what you deserve at the end there’s no better feeling. I’m so proud of the team and the way we controlled our emotions and navigated through the different stages of the game. We showed the conviction, the courage the desire and the quality we need to get where we want to be.
“To get to the next level you have to learn from the past and we have certainly taken some lessons from this ground. But today the team took our game to a different level and I’m very proud. Newcastle are a terrific team and it’s so difficult to play against them.”
Eddie Howe, whose side have won only once in the league this season, described the nature of the last-gasp defeat as “intensely painful” but was most concerned about the second half knee injury sustained by his England full-back Tino Livramento.
Although Newcastle’s manager could offer no definitive updates as to Livramento’s condition, he described the sight of the England defender – who, as a Southampton player, was sidelined for a year after suffering with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament – being taken off on a stretcher in evident pain as “really distressing.”
Howe said: “It doesn’t look good. Tino’s such a big player for us in all sorts of different ways that it’s going to be a huge blow if we’re going to be without him for any length of time.”
Barca Top La Liga
In Spanish La Liga, Real Sociedad coach Sergio Francisco lauded Lamine Yamal as the best player in the world after the Barcelona forward returned from injury to set up the winning goal in Sunday’s meeting between the two teams.
Yamal, 18, missed Barça’s last four games with a groin problem but came off the bench against La Real and within one minute had set up Robert Lewandowski as the Catalans won 2-1 to move top of La Liga, a point ahead of Real Madrid who were walloped 5-2 by city rivals Atletico Madrid on Saturday, 27 September.
“Lamine’s presence on the pitch alone is a threat,” Francisco said in a news conference. “It is so difficult to stop him, even bringing on fresh players from the bench to defend him.
“It’s great to watch him play. He showed again that he is most likely the best in the world. His introduction off the bench decided the game.”
Real Sociedad had taken a surprise lead in the first half at the Olympic Stadium through ex-Madrid player Álvaro Odriozola, but Jules Koundé headed Barça level just before the break from Marcus Rashford’s corner.
Barça coach Hansi Flick then brought Yamal on in the 58th minute to the delight of the home supporters.
In the 59th minute, the teenager beat his man and stood up a cross for Lewandowski to head home his fourth goal of the season.
Yamal thought he had his own goal minutes later, only for his strike to be ruled out for a marginal offside.
“I am happy to have him back, we all are,” Flick said. “He showed directly the outstanding strength he has, to create chances, to give the last pass. It’s good to have him back.”
Yamal’s re-appearance came at the end of a week in which he finished second to Ousmane Dembélé in the Ballon d’Or and took home the Kopa Trophy — awarded to the best U21 player in the world — at a gala in Paris.
He showed off the Kopa Trophy on the pitch before the game, with Flick saying he will now focus on going one better in the Ballon d’Or next year.
“It’s a decision we cannot change [Dembélé winning], but Lamine has another chance next year,” the Barça manager added.
“He will try to get it. For every player, it’s a big thing, to be one of these guys who can win this trophy. And of course we have a lot of players in this team who can win this trophy.”
Barça remain unbeaten through seven league games this season, winning six and drawing one, and Sunday’s victory took them ahead of Real Madrid at the top of the table.
“It’s good to have this,” Flick said of rising to the summit. “It puts some pressure on the opponents, Real and everyone behind us. Now we have to defend this position.”
Sunday’s victory was also notable for a full debut for wonderboy Dro Fernández, a 17-year-old attacking midfielder who was handed a surprise start by Flick.
“I am so happy, so happy,” Dro told reporters. “It is incredible. When I was told I was starting, I did not believe it at first, but I managed to calm myself down.
“The other players and the coach helped. They told me to do what I do in training and that gave me some confidence.”
PHOTO CAPTION: Gabriel Magalhaes (right) wheels away screaming after scoring the last gap winner.
Results From Major Domestic Leagues Across Europe, Sunday, 29 September
ENGLAND: Premier League
Aston Villa – Fulham 3:1
Newcastle – Arsenal 1:2
FRANCE: Ligue 1
Nice – Paris FC 1:1
Angers – Brest 0:2
Lille – Lyon 0:1
Metz – Le Havre 0:0
Rennes – Lens 0:0
GERMANY: Bundesliga
Freiburg – Hoffenheim 1:1
FC Koln – Stuttgart 1:2
Union Berlin – Hamburger SV 0:0
ITALY: Serie A
Sassuolo – Udinese 3:1
AS Roma – Verona 2:0
Pisa – Fiorentina 0:0
Lecce – Bologna 2:2
AC Milan – Napoli 2:1
NETHERLANDS: Eredivisie
Nijmegen – AZ Alkmaar 2:1
Groningen – Feyenoord 0:1
Utrecht – Heerenveen 2:2
Telstar – G.A. Eagles 4:2
SPAIN: LaLiga
Rayo Vallecano – Sevilla 0:1
Elche – Celta Vigo 2:1
Barcelona – Real Sociedad 2:1
Betis – Osasuna 2:0
