Gunners last-minute Newcastle win the sign of champions

Former title-winner Glen Johnson thinks that Mikel Arteta‘s serial runners-up showed the signs of champions after snatching a last-gasp winner against Newcastle United on Sunday.

It’s often said that if you want to win the Premier League title, you need to come back from the brink and win games when things go against you, and that is exactly what Arsenal did when they scored two very late goals to see-off Newcastle at St. James’ Park.

It was an impressive victory for the Gunners in a stadium that has haunted them in recent years and against a manager in Eddie Howe who has come out on top more often than not when pitting his tactical wits against Mikel Arteta.

It was the kind of victory that lays down a maker. Had Arsenal not taken all three points in the north east, questions would have been asked about their ability to challenge for the title, especially after Arne Slot‘s Liverpool lost at Crystal Palace 24 hours beforehand.

Champions win that game

When assessing the Gunners performance, ex-Liverpool right back and one-time Premier League champion Glen Johnson told 10bet: “I thought Arsenal were already Liverpool’s biggest rivals before they beat Newcastle on Sunday.

“When it was 1-1, Gary Neville said that champions would go on to win the game. Before he said that, I thought exactly the same. At 1-1, you could still lose it but title winners would make sure they got all three points.”

Arsenal demonstrating a winning mentality

Arsenal didn’t have it all their own way in the game. New signing Viktor Gyokeres was denied what looked like a stonewall penalty by VAR, and Johnson thinks that this Arsenal team are more capable of dealing with moments of adversity, adding: “With the penalty they had turned down, lesser sides might have just been happy to get a point, but they didn’t. They thought right, 10 minutes left, let’s get another, let’s get them on the ropes.

“That’s what impressed me most, and that’s what makes me think they’re the strongest rivals to Liverpool. I think last year they wouldn’t have had that winning mentality.”

The Gunners face another of Johnson’s former clubs when they take on West Ham on Saturday at The Emirates stadium.