The Gunners were heading for a fourth consecutive defeat at St. James’ Park after falling behind to Nick Woltemade’s first-half header.
However, Mikel Merino headed in the equaliser before Gabriel Magalhaes powered in from a 96th-minute corner to lift Arsenal into second and within two points of leaders Liverpool.
“To win in the manner that we have done it, wow, what a feeling,” Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said. “Football is about emotion and going through things and today we had a beautiful one at the end of the match.”
Liverpool’s first defeat of the season at Crystal Palace on Saturday had handed Arsenal the chance to close in at the top of the table.
For a long time it looked like Arteta’s men would let that opportunity slip by in a bad-tempered encounter on Tyneside.
But the manner of victory will give the Gunners belief this is their season after finishing second in each of the last three campaigns.
“There are moments in the season and obviously with the start that we had already, and the difficult fixtures that we had, we have the opportunity to close that gap,” Arteta said.
“To do it in a stadium that has a very recent and difficult past for us I think it shows how much the team wants it (the title).”
Arteta’s conservative team selection in last weekend’s 1-1 draw at home to Manchester City was much criticised.
There was no sense of the Spaniard holding back as Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze returned to the starting line-up.
Eze nearly made his mark within five minutes as his low drive was brilliantly turned behind by Nick Pope.
Meanwhile, Ollie Watkins ended his barren spell in front of goal as Aston Villa came from behind to beat Fulham 3-1 for their first Premier League win of the season
Victory lifts Villa up to 16th, two points behind Fulham, who slip to 10th. (AFP)
