Fast start from the Gunners
It was a regular Saturday in February, and the kick-off of the Premier League match between Newcastle and Arsenal was at 15:00 GMT. Home team, Newcastle were in eighth place in the table at the time, and Arsenal were second (behind Manchester United, who ended up winning the league).
Newcastle's home stadium St James' Park was sold out. More than 51,000 spectators had no idea they were going to see such an extraordinary show. However, the start was nerve-wracking for the home fans.
The Gunners from Arsenal ran riot in the first half, racing into a three-goal lead inside 10 minutes. Arsene Wenger's men opened the scoring in the first minute thanks to Theo Walcott, who scored after a beautiful through pass from Andrei Arshavin.
Just two minutes later, Arshavin took a free kick. He put the ball on the head of Johan Djourou and it was 2-0. In the 10th minute, Theo Walcott found Robin van Persie with a cutback pass from the right: 3-0.
Robin van Persie added his second goal in the 26th minute. He netted a header from Bacary Sagna's cross. The home team of manager Alan Pardew were ripe for a towel.
Some fans (understandably) lost hope and started leaving the stands. But in the end, they would regret their decision.
Greatest comeback of all time
However, Arsenal's Abou Diaby was sent off at the start of the second half for an unnecessary reaction during a scuffle with the well-known troublemaker Joey Barton. That was one of the turning points of the entire match.
Newcastle scored with a numerical advantage for the first time in the 68th minute, when Joey Barton converted a penalty. In the 75th minute, striker Leon Best tapped the ball into the net after a cross from the left side.
In the 83rd minute, another penalty came for Newcastle. Barton converted it again and the home team were only one goal behind.
Then, in the 87th minute, the most important and the most beautiful goal of the match came. The ball bounced after a cross from a free-kick and went outside the box of Arsenal. Cheick Tiote immediately volleyed it with his left foot and completed the comeback with stunning a 20-yard equaliser.
St James' Park erupted in euphoria. Newcastle became the first team in Premier League history to come back from four goals down.
Sad fate of Cheick Tiote
Ivory Coast footballer Tiote played as a defensive midfielder. He arrived in Europe in 2005, at the age of 19, signed by Belgian side Anderlecht. He later played in the Netherlands (Roda Kerkrade and Twente) and in 2010 he transferred to Newcastle United.
He spent six successful seasons in the north of England. He played 156 games for Newcastle and scored one goal – the one that plays a major role in this whole story.
Tiote played also 55 times for the Ivory Coast national team from 2009 to 2015. He represented the country at two World Cups and four Africa Cup of Nations, winning the 2015 edition of the latter. In 2017, he transferred from Newcastle to China, to the team Beijing Enterprises Group.
However, that same year, Tiote passed away suddenly. On June 5th, 2017, he died at the age of 30 in Beijing after suffering a cardiac arrest in training.
After being taken to the hospital, doctors were unable to save him. Many of his teammates paid tribute to him. His former managers were similarly effusive with praise.
Rafael Benitez labelled him "a true professional", Alan Pardew described him as "everything that you want in a Newcastle player", Steve McClaren (who had managed him at both Twente and Newcastle) remembered him as the toughest player he had ever seen, and Chris Hughton (who had brought him to Newcastle) spoke of his humility and called him "the perfect fit".