Danny Welbeck and 5 Other Dramatic Winning Goals in the Premier League
Arsenal took a dramatic step in the title race on Sunday, scoring a late winner to see off Leicester City at the Emirates Stadium.
After Jamie Vardy put the visitors ahead at halftime, Arsenal took advantage of a red card shown to Danny Simpson and scored twice in the second half to claim a vital victory. Theo Walcott started the comeback in the 70th minute, and Danny Welbeck, with virtually the last touch of the game, headed in the winner deep in stoppage time.
With that, Arsenal had suddenly closed the gap of first-placed Leicester to two points, resurrecting their title push and providing the title race with a potential turning point.
"It was a pivotal moment today because the mathematics meant it could be eight points or it could be two points," manager Arsene Wenger said (h/t Phil McNulty at BBC Sport). "That is a great change."
With Arsenal's memorable winner in mind, we've compiled a list featuring some of the most dramatic winners in recent Premier League history. In making our selections, we felt that the more important the goal—whether it came in the context of a title race, relegation fight or even just a local derby—the greater the dramatic effect.
Ready? Let's get started.
Steve Bruce
1 of 5
The debut Premier League season, 1992-93, served up a compelling title race between Manchester United and Aston Villa. On April 10, United seemed set to lose ground on their rivals after falling behind Sheffield Wednesday at Old Trafford. Villa had already drawn with Coventry City and would have gone two points clear atop the table if results held.
But then Steve Bruce, who hadn't scored in six months, turned around the game—and the title race—with two headed goals in the final four minutes.
First came the tying goal in the 86th minute as Bruce powered in a Denis Irwin corner. Then, in the sixth minute of stoppage time, the center-back stooped to head in the winner.
Instead of falling two points behind, United were now one point ahead of Villa. Sir Alex Ferguson's men went on to win the title—the club's first since 1966-67—by 10 points. And with that, Fergie Time was born.
Stan Collymore
2 of 5
Neither Liverpool nor Newcastle United won the Premier League in 1995-96, but their clash in April of that season is widely regarded as one of the best matches in the competition's history.
Newcastle went into the match three points behind eventual champions Manchester United but with two games in hand. Liverpool were eight back and desperately needed a win to keep their hopes alive.
Robbie Fowler gave the hosts a perfect start, scoring the opening goal in the second minute, but Newcastle hit back through Les Ferdinand and David Ginola. Fowler equalized 10 minutes into the second half, but Faustino Asprilla restored the visitors' lead just two minutes later.
The stage was set for drama, and Stan Collymore came through. The English striker notched Liverpool's second equalizer in the 68th minute and fired in the winner in the second minute of stoppage time following good work by Ian Rush and John Barnes.
Anfield erupted in a cacophony of noise, while Newcastle boss Kevin Keegan couldn't contain his disappointment. Though both teams came up short in the title race, the drama that unfolded that day won't easily be topped.
Michael Owen
3 of 5
The seven-goal thriller between Liverpool and Newcastle finished second in a 2012 public vote for the best Premier League match of all time.
The winner? A September 2009 Manchester Derby at Old Trafford.
Wayne Rooney fired United into the lead in just the second minute, and Darren Fletcher added a pair of goals for the hosts. But Craig Bellamy equalized three times for City, including a dramatic strike in the 90th minute.
A thrilling draw seemed inevitable, but further theatrics lay in store. After the fourth official had announced four minutes of stoppage time would be added, the game kept going into a sixth minute of extra action. That's when Michael Owen tapped in from close range to give United all three points.
Afterward, City manager Mark Hughes was furious with referee Martin Atkinson.
"I just want an explanation," Hughes said, per Daniel Taylor of the Guardian. "I'm not going to question his integrity, I just want an explanation why he added seven minutes and, if he can give me a good reason, I won't have a problem, but I just can't see where he got that time."
He added: "It would be nice to get an explanation, though I doubt I will get one."
Diomansy Kamara
4 of 5
In April 2008, Fulham urgently needed points to stay in the Premier League. With three games left, the Cottagers knew they realistically had to win at Manchester City to have any hope of survival.
Those hopes dimmed as City took a two-goal lead at halftime. But the second-half introduction of Diomansy Kamara, an unheralded striker, changed the game in Fulham's favor.
Kamara started the fightback in the 70th minute, and Danny Murphy equalized from the penalty spot nine minutes later. Then, in the second minute of stoppage time, Kamara powered home the winner to give Fulham an improbable 3-2 victory.
"It was a splendid victory for us, one we so badly needed," said Roy Hodgson, Fulham's manager at the time, per Tom Fordyce of BBC Sport. "It looked bleak at half-time, and we had a mountain to climb - we didn't deserve to be losing. But we did it. At 0-2 I honestly thought we weren't out of it. I never lost hope, but to win it was extraordinary. We've given ourselves a chance now."
Fulham won their next two games and avoided relegation on goal difference.
Sergio Aguero
5 of 5
With six games to go in the 2011-12 Premier League season, Manchester United held a massive eight-point lead over second-placed Manchester City. Sir Alex Ferguson's side appeared set for yet another title, but a shocking collapse and an unforgettable final day saw City win the league for the first time in 44 years.
Losses to Wigan and Man City, plus a 4-4 draw with Everton, saw United's lead evaporate. Thus, the rivals were locked on 86 points heading into the last round of fixtures, with United playing at Sunderland and City hosting relegation candidates Queens Park Rangers.
The stage seemed set for City, but the plot became more complicated, as 10-man QPR took a 2-1 lead into the 90th minute and United finished off a 1-0 victory over Sunderland. But the tide began to turn when Edin Dzeko headed in a 92nd-minute equalizer, and two minutes later, Sergio Aguero played a one-two with Mario Balotelli, evaded a challenge and drilled the ball into the net for the most dramatic of winners.
Not only did the goal give City victory on the day, but it also delivered the club's first title since 1968.
