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Bukayo Saka has described Gabriel's last-minute winner against Newcastle as a "big moment" for Arsenal.
The defender header home in the sixth minute of added time to seal all three points for Mikel Arteta's side. Mikel Merino had equalised for the Gunners in the 84th minute after Nick Woltemade put the Magpies ahead in the first half.
Arsenal dominated for large periods of the match and Saka, as well as several other members of those sitting on the substitutes' bench at the time, could not contain their excitement as they sprinted to the corner flag to join in with celebrations after Gabriel's winner.
“It was top, man, we had to run out to the corner flag and share the moment with Gabi! It's a big moment for us as a team," Saka told Arsenal's official website after the match.
“I was enjoying [the game]. I was feeling good, obviously managing it having just come back and three games in a week. I felt really good out there. I felt we dominated the game, we controlled it, and at the end, we got what we deserved.
“It's a beautiful feeling every time I get to wear the armband, and even better when we get three points, so I'm really happy.”
Saka started the match and wore the captain's armband with Martin Odegaard named on the bench. He lasted 70 minutes on Tyneside as he continues his recovery from injury, with the England international describing his pride at the result post-match.
“It was a big result," he said. “We've come here in the past and results have gone against us, or decisions and stuff like that. It was starting to feel like that again today, but we have a big character, a big fight to turn it around, so we're really happy.
“In the past, we've come here and had decisions to go against us and whatnot, and almost today, with the penalty and some of the decisions, and Nick Pope having an unbelievable game. But we dug in and we showed that character, that resilience we have, so I'm really proud of all the boys. We made a big statement today. It's really good for us, you can see it in all of our faces.”
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