Arsenal vs Newcastle LIVE: Result and reaction from Carabao Cup as Isak and Gordon give Magpies advantage
Arsenal 0-2 Newcastle: Eddie Howe’s men secured a strong lead ahead of the second leg next month
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Your support makes all the difference.Newcastle United took one step closer to the Wembley with a superb 2-0 victory over Arsenal in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final at the Emirates Stadium.
Eddie Howe named an attacking line-up for the Magpies and they showed their intent from the start with a high press and a willingness to get men into the final third when in possession. Their early dominance threatened to be a false dawn though as Arsenal swiftly played through them to set Gabriel Martinelli up with a brilliant chance to open the scoring only for the winger to strike the post.
Alexander Isak was more clinical at the other end. He ran onto the end of a Jacob Murphy pass to slot past David Raya and give Newcastle the lead before half-time.
After the restart, Anthony Gordon arrived in the box at the right time as Isak had another shot stopped by Raya only for the goalkeeper to serve up an easy tap-in to Gordon. Howe then made changes and set the team up defensively.
Arsenal threw everything at them but couldn’t cut the deficit and will have a tough task ahead of the return leg at St. James’ Park.
Relive the action from the Emirates Stadium with our live blog below:
Arsenal 0-0 Newcastle
9 mins: Arsenal are set up with Leandro Trossard on the right wing of the forward line. He doesn’t usually play here but in Bukayo Saka’s absence Mikel Arteta must feel as though Gabriel Martinelli is the more effective of the two on the left wing.
Arsenal 0-0 Newcastle
6 mins: Arsenal win their first set piece of the game. The Gunners have been incredible at scoring from set plays this season and this corner is sent into the box buy Declan Ric3e.
He picks out Jurrien Timber but the defender’s header is directed wide of the target.
Arsenal 0-0 Newcastle
5 mins: Nearly!
Arsenal’s centre-backs are asleep as a ball is played over the top for Alexander Isak. The striker makes a run in behind and keeps himself onside before touching the ball into the box.
He pulls it back to Joelinton who attempts a first time shot on a bobbling pass. He doesn’t connect properly and lifts the effort over the crossbar.
Arsenal 0-0 Newcastle
3 mins: Arsenal look to control possession but a poor pass into midfield is intercepted. Newcastle send the ball to Alexander Isak who spins and releases it to Jacob Murphy arriving in the box from the right.
Murphy shoots but his effort is blocked and the Gunners clear their lines.
Kick off! Arsenal 0-0 Newcastle
Newcastle get the ball rolling at the Emirates Stadium and work it over to the left wing. Joelinton is fed down the line and comes up against Jurrien Timber who manages to win a throw in for Arsenal.
Arsenal vs Newcastle
The players make their way out onto the pitch at the Emirates Stadium. The Newcastle fans are in full voice and have travelled a long way for this match.
It’s only the first leg but both managers have picked strong teams with the aim to win the game. For Arsenal, Martin Odegaard returns and captains the team. He leads the players out on the pitch.
Kick off is up next...
Isak could make history versus Arsenal
Alexander Isak could become the first Magpies player to score against Arsenal in two different games in a single campaign since Laurent Robert in 2001/02.
The cost of football’s packed schedule is a double-edged sword for players and managers alike
It’s a week where only four Premier League teams have double fixtures, so it consequently becomes a little double-edged. Although the Carabao Cup semi-final managers are at a stage of the season where their squads could badly do with time to breathe, the fact they are so close to Wembley means they feel they have little choice but to go all in. There’s a trophy to be won.
That just means they lose a little bit of ground on, well, the training ground after the hectic December schedule. It’s perhaps just as well for Mikel Arteta and Arne Slot, in particular, that they have the FA Cup rather than Premier League at the weekend. We can expect some drastically changed sides.
There should be a sadness to that but it does point to one of many contradictions in the modern game. Football has become so forensically systemised - to the point some call it “NFLisation” - and yet there’s so little actual time in the calendar for the elite teams to hone those systems.
The cost of football’s packed schedule is a double-edged sword for players
Balancing a desire to win trophies with preparation time on the training ground takes its toll both physically and mentally
Can Jesus keep scoring?
Gabriel Jesus has been involved in 13 goals in his last nine starts in the League Cup (11 goals, 2 assists).
Howe on Guimaraes’ absence
Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes misses tonight’s match due to a suspension for picking up too many yellow cards in the previous rounds.
The Magpies boss, Eddie Howe, spoke about what it’ll be like to play without his talisman and said: “It’s a big blow. One of Bruno’s biggest strengths is he is always there for you.
“His record has been brilliant for us especially when you consider the physical exertion that he commits to every game.
“His training is very good and he’s been exceptional in every way so to lose him, and he’s a pivotal figure for us, is going to be a big miss but we have good players that can fill his shoes as well so, whoever I choose in that position, I have a lot of quality players.”
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