'Magical' - Mikel Merino can't hide his love for Newcastle United with St James' Park statement
Newcastle United were beaten 2-1 by Arsenal at St James’ Park in the Premier League.
Heartache for Newcastle United. Late drama. Falling short in the big games. A number of disappointing themes are emerging for the Magpies and Eddie Howe this season. But even with all of that, the landscape compared to eight years ago is very different on Tyneside, even if echoes of the past remain.
What’s the relevance of such an out the blue statement, I hear you ask, well, it’s more to do with an Arsenal goalscorer than anything done by anyone in black and white on the day.
With the Magpies hanging on to a narrow lead, Mikel Merino strode off the Gunners’ bench to inspire a comeback win with a flicked header at the Leazes End. Merino, of course, is no stranger to such an act. Roll clock back to October 2017 and it was the Spaniard who rose highest, at the same end, to nod home his first NUFC goal against Crystal Palace with Rafa Benitez in the United dugout.
And speaking post-match, after Gabriel’s late winner, Merino referenced that goal and some ‘big memories’ from his time on Tyneside.
Mikel Merino goal: ‘Big memories’
Speaking to the BBC, Merino said of scoring at NUFC: “I just said a long time ago but still big memories. Every time I come back here it's a great day for me. Also, all friends here, very happy to come and experience St. James' Park again now as an away footballer. A day full of emotions for me and to come back and score the equaliser is magical.”
He continued: “It was pretty similar to one I score her for Newcastle, in the same goal as well. Really happy, that's something I put a lot of work in, headers to try and train every single day in the game, if you have a chance to have a header to have it as well as you do in training.
“Every single Premier League game's is an opportunity for us, not only to win points, not only to make a statement, but also to show everybody what this club is about, to show the character and the mentality we have. There's no better place than here, no better way then the way we have done it coming back from a really difficult situation. I'm really proud of everyone in there, not only the players, the staff and the fans who came here to support us. Just buzzing and ready to keep going.”
Newcastle United 1 Arsenal 2 - report
Arsenal scored a 96th-minute winner as Newcastle United suffered a second St James’ Park defeat of the season.
An eventful first half ended with Newcastle leading as Nick Woltemade scored his second goal for the club.
It came after Arsenal were awarded a penalty when Nick Pope brought down Vitor Gyokeres, but referee Jarred Gillett overturned his decision following a lengthy VAR check.
But two goals in the final 10 minutes saw the Gunners flip the result on its head as Mikel Merino scored before Gabriel netted in stoppage time.
Newcastle may feell aggrieved having moments before Gabriel’s winner saw a penalty appeal turned down as Gabriel handled Anthony Elanga’s cross.
Howe made six changes from Wednesday’s 4-1 win over Bradford City in the Carabao Cup, with Nick Pope, Sandro Tonali, Tino Livramento, Jacob Murphy, Nick Woltemade and Dan Burn recalled to the starting XI in place of Aaron Ramsdale, Lewis Miley, Lewis Hall, Emil Krafth, Will Osula and Anthony Elanga.
Many had expected United to line up with a back five but it was a back four with Burn moving out to left-back.
Arsenal thought they’d been given an early penalty after Gyokeres was brought down by Pope inside the area. Referee Gillett initially pointed to the spot but overturned his decision after reviewing the incident at the pitch-side monitor.
Pope kept the Magpies in the game before Woltemade headed the home side in front in the 34th minute when he met Sandro Tonali’s in-swinging cross.
Newcastle continued to hold out until the 84th when Merino equalised from Declan Rice’s cross.
There was then more referee controversy when Anthony Elanga’s cross hit the arm of Gabriel. Gillett waved away the Magpies’ appeals and VAR stuck with the referee’s on-field decision.
Arsenal then won it in the sixth minute of stoppage time when Gabriel headed in Gabriel Martinelli’s corner.