What Declan Rice told Gabriel Magalhaes after Arsenal winner vs Newcastle speaks volumes

Declan Rice has made his feelings on Gabriel Magalhaes perfectly clear after the Arsenal defender scored deep into stoppage time to secure a 2-1 victory against Newcastle United. The Gunners initially went behind to a Nick Woltemade header but fought back and scored twice in the final stages.

Substitute Mikel Merino grabbed the equaliser in the 84th minute with a glancing header from a Rice cross. In the final knockings, Gabriel headed in a last-gasp winner after a pinpoint corner from Martin Odegaard.

Those three goals came alongside some controversial moments with an Arsenal penalty overturned after VAR intervention during the first half. Newcastle were also denied a spot-kick late on when the ball struck Gabriel's arm, with the Brazil international also at the centre of a spat with Woltemade.

However, they were able to see it out. And seven days on from snatching a point against Manchester City during injury time - albeit with a very different reaction - Arsenal showed their character again with Arteta unsurprisingly delighted.

"Unbelievable feeling, that's what football is about," he admitted in a press conference. "And a team, when you get what you deserve right at the end, it's not a better feeling than that."

On the game as a whole, the Arsenal boss added: "The belief, the conviction of the team that we are and that we can play various types of games and the team still can deliver and win it in a convincing way.

"And for me today, it's one of the most difficult grounds. Again, praise Newcastle, the way they play, compete, how difficult it is to play in this place. But the team really took the game to a different level, and I'm very proud to see that."

It comes as no surprise that the Arsenal squad were also delighted by the victory with that evidenced in their celebrations immediately after the goal and at the full-time whistle. And it looks as though that has continued on Instagram with Rice and Gabriel sharing messages on Instagram.

The latter wrote on his story: "@declanrice my brooooooo [red heart emoji]." A few hours later, Rice uploaded a reply which said: "you are a monster my friend [red heart emoji]."

With Liverpool losing to Crystal Palace just over 24 hours earlier, it was paramount that Arsenal picked up all three points which saw them move up to second place.

The Gunners are now just two points behind Arne Slot's side with it very possible they switch places over the coming weeks given how their two fixture schedules look on paper.

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