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:
Howe gives Botman update
Here’s Eddie Howe chatting about the fitness of Newcastle defender Sven Botman who has recently returned from injury:
“He feels good. Naturally, a little bit of fatigue at the end of the game [versus Spurs] but I think, with Sven, it was a long absence but he’s trained for a long, long time for this moment.
“After the Aston Villa game, he was cleared to play but we wanted to give him longer to try and reach his best physical levels. It is not like he has been rushed back. Straight into action, he did very well, (I was) really pleased with him and he handled the intensity well.”
Eddie Howe on importance of tonight’s match
The Newcastle manager knows how important these next two games will be for his team and hopes his players are ‘at their absolute best’ when they take on Arsenal tonight.
Howe said: “This is an important game for us. We need to be at our absolute best, a high-level game. There is a lot at stake for us.
“We’ve got to be really good off the ball and solid defensively. We’ve got to cause Arsenal problems the other way. I don’t think we should overthink it, we just need to get that mix right.
“Let’s try and continue the good performances we’ve given recently and try and win the game.”
Pre-match thoughts from Mikel Arteta
Ahead of the game the Arsenal boss said: “We’re very excited to play the game in front of our crowd.
“A semi-final, an opportunity to earn the right to be in a final and that starts tomorrow with two legs. Obviously they’re going to be two long games against a very competitive team, we know that, but very excited and we need a big, big atmosphere in our stadium.
“The way we can feel at the Emirates with our people is incredible and I’m very positive that tomorrow we’re going to create a big one against really good opposition in the semi-final of the cup that we want to win, so let’s go for it.”
Arsenal vs Newcastle prediction: Semi-final stalemate
Arsenal host Newcastle in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final on Tuesday night, with both sides looking to take what could be a vital advantage to St James’ Park (8pm, Sky Sports Main Event).
The Gunners remain firmly in the Premier League title race after the weekend’s results, but attention turns to the first cup competition of the season as Mikel Arteta’s side hunt a first major trophy since 2020.
Arsenal will know how difficult a second leg at St James’ could be, having lost there already this season, and will be desperate to take a lead of any kind to Tyneside, but they face a Newcastle team that has been in fine form in recent weeks, having won their last six matches in all competitions.
Arsenal vs Newcastle prediction: Semi-final stalemate
Read our free football betting tips ahead of Tuesday’s Carabao Cup clash at the Emirates
How will VAR work in the Carabao Cup? Major change made for semi-finals
Referees will make in-stadium announcements on the outcome of VAR reviews in the remainder of this season’s Carabao Cup, marking a first for English football.
The EFL confirmed last month that VAR will be in use for the competition’s two-leg semi-finals and for the final at Wembley on 16 March.
However, the most significant move will be a pilot allowing referees to announce the final outcome of VAR reviews to spectators in the stadium and viewers watching at home.
This will include decisions reviewed by the referee at the pitchside monitor, or upon the conclusion of factual matters such as accidental handball by a goalscorer or offside judgements.
Carabao Cup match officials
Here’s the team that will take to the field to officiate tonight’s semi-final first leg. Craig Pawson is in charge on the pitch and will referee the game while John Brooks is the VAR overseeing the new rules for the match.
Referee: Craig Pawson Assistants: Ian Hussin, Wade Smith Fourth official: Tony Harrington VAR: John Brooks
Nwaneri injury deals further blow to depleted Arsenal
Arsenal suffered another selection setback after teen sensation Ethan Nwaneri was ruled out for the rest of the month on the eve of their Carabao Cup semi-final against Newcastle.
The 17-year-old marked his second successive Premier League start by opening the scoring in Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Brighton before being withdrawn at half-time.
Nwaneri was handed his chance as a result of injuries to Bukayo Saka, who is expected to be sidelined until March, and Raheem Sterling.
But manager Mikel Arteta now faces being without the teenager for the entirety of January, with Tuesday’s first leg against the Magpies the first of seven fixtures to come during the remainder of the month.
Arsenal suffer another injury blow with young star set for spell on sidelines
Arsenal have been dealt another injury blow with young star Ethan Nwaneri facing a spell on the sidelines.
The 17-year-old has impressed of late having been handed an opportunity in the starting side after Bukayo Saka’s hamstring issue.
But the teenager sustained a muscular problem in the weekend draw at Brighton and now faces time out.
Arsenal suffer another injury blow with young star set for spell on sidelines
An injury to Ethan Nwaneri has compounded Mikel Arteta’s injury issues in the forward line
Arsenal vs Newcastle prediction
Arsenal have been struggling for goals in recent weeks, while Newcastle have six wins on the bounce having scored 18 goals across those games.
The Magpies will come up against one of the toughest defences in the country, but they’ll be confident of taking a result back to St James’ Park.
Arsenal 1-1 Newcastle United.
Newcastle’s early team news
For Newcastle, Sven Botman made his return at the weekend, though he was forced off and so will likely not be risked in this match, with Lewis Kelly potentially coming in.
The rest of the line-up will likely remain the same as it was for the win over Spurs, with Harvey Barnes and Joe Willock also fighting for a place.
Predicted Newcastle XI: Dubravka; Livramento, Kelly, Burn, Hall; Guimaraes, Tonali, Joelinton; Murphy, Isak, Gordon.
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