What is it about this side and set-plays?
For context, since the start of the 2023-24 season, Arsenal have scored 36 goals from corners in the Premier League – 15 more than any other side in this period.
Arsenal’s prowess from set-pieces ultimately turned this game on its head.
From the first, in the 84th minute, Arsenal took a short corner before Declan Rice swung the ball into the box.
Merino got there in front of Sven Botman to glance the ball in off the post.
And the decision to go short certainly did not go unnoticed by Match of the Day pundit Joe Hart.
“Rice was willing to do something off the cuff [for the goal],” the former Manchester City goalkeeper told BBC Sport. “That is someone who is not bothered about the problems Arsenal had faced, that was someone looking for a solution and, at that moment in time, that was the solution.
“When he needs to make the last-ditch tackles, that’s what he does and when he needs to do something special, like that kind of blind round the corner ball on to Merino’s head, that was a special bit of play that his team needed.”
Merino previously spent a season at Newcastle, but there was no chance of the Spaniard reining in his celebration as he punched the air.
But it was instructive that each Arsenal player raced back to their own half so the game could get back under way.
They sensed there was another twist to come – and it arrived in the 96th minute.
After going short for their equaliser, Arsenal went direct and another substitute, Martin Odegaard, set up Gabriel, who headed home at the near post.
The away end up in the gods could scarcely believe it – even though this side are making a habit of scoring late goals.
“That shows a lot and not only set-pieces strategy but also mentality,” Merino told Match of the Day. “Other teams, if they get six or seven corners and they don’t score, they start to lose belief in the qualities.
“But, for us, it’s a matter of keep doing what we do, doing it at the highest level and, in the end, the last one, the last second, we scored and I’m really happy.”
It is very early days, of course, but this felt like a timely test of Arsenal’s credentials as title challengers that the Gunners found a way to pass.
After watching champions Liverpool slip up against Crystal Palace on Saturday, Arteta’s team ultimately took advantage.
Rather than remaining five points behind, Arsenal have instead closed the gap.
“The character they showed today was as impressive as the result,” England women’s record scorer Ellen White told BBC Sport. “St James’ Park has been such a hard place for them to go, and they have had some difficult games there recently with maybe some things not quite going their way.
“We saw that again at the beginning of this game as well, so to show that grit, determination and togetherness and have the character to come through such a physical game – there were some big hits going in, with a lot of big tackles and relentless running as well – was so impressive.”
