They came off the pitch to bear hugs, high fives and with the away end’s celebrations ringing in their ears.
Arsenal showed they are determined to take this title race right until the end and have put just a little bit of pressure back on Manchester City.
Blimey, if Arsenal are supposedly bottling it then no-one told the heroes of St James’s Park after a magnificent, gutsy and brave victory in one of the best games you will see this season.
It was typified by a sensational man of the match performance by Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard who set the tone but Aaron Ramsdale, Ben White, Jorginho and Jakub Kiwior were not far behind.
They weathered a Newcastle storm, a red-hot atmosphere at St James’s Park and put in a real statement of intent because it takes something extra special to win up here these days.
Odegaard scored the first, Fabian Schar put through his own net for the clincher but this was about the team performance and their determination to dig in and scrap.
Let no-one else talk about Arsenal lacking leaders or character because they showed so much heart and fight. It was a masterclass in an away performance as they held defensively and could have scored more on the break.
Ramsdale made one sensational save, plenty of other good stops too while White somehow thwarted Alexander Isak’s electric pace and Kiwior was magnificent as he headed, blocked and tackled everything alongside defensive sidekick Gabriel.
Arsenal had let-offs as Newcastle hit the woodwork twice but the visitors fully deserved their win and managed the game superbly, slowing it down and frustrating the life out of the home fans with some time wasting. But that was probably karma for the reverse fixture.
You did worry for Arsenal early on as they looked vulnerable and their recent wobble probably suggested any realistic hope of the title could end with defeat at Newcastle.
They looked like rabbits in the headlights early on as Jacob Murphy hit the post and Kiwior survived a penalty shout when referee Chris Kavanagh pointed to the spot only for VAR to overturn it as the ball hit his thigh.
Then came Arsenal’s response and it was led by Odegaard who has enjoyed a magnificent season but he cannot have played much better than this. He owned the pitch, finding space and running the game.
Arsenal went ahead after just 14 minutes as they put together a patient move, Jorginho’s pass teed up Odegaard who drove home low into Newcastle keeper Nick Pope’s bottom left hand corner.
An away goal often quells the noise for any home crowd. Not at St James’s Park. The home fans still turned up the volume and Arsenal showed real heart to get stronger.
Three times before the break they had big chances. Gabriel Martinelli, Bukayo Saka and Odegaard were all denied by Pope in one-on-ones. The Newcastle keeper’s best stop was probably to deny Odegaard in first half injury time.
The second half followed exactly the same pattern after the restart. Newcastle started at such pace again. Isak hit the post and then Ramsdale made an incredible point blank stop from Schar’s close range header.
But Arsenal played it with real composure. Martinelli hit the crossbar as Gabriel Jesus also led the line with bravery and the ball stuck to him like glue.
It was Martinelli, who had struggled in the first half, ran the length of the Newcastle half, cut in from the by-line and then his fierce low cross was turned in at the near post by Schar into his own net.
That was the safety net Arsenal needed. Newcastle still need points to secure a top four finish but they will surely come because few teams will survive such a test.
