Pre-Match Report

Preview: Newcastle United v Arsenal

Newcastle United v Arsenal

It’s do or die in terms of our Carabao Cup hopes on Wednesday night (8pm) as we head to Newcastle United looking to overturn a 2-0 first-leg deficit to reach our first final in the competition since 2018.

A month ago, goals from Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon once again did the damage as Eddie Howe’s team seized a huge advantage heading into their home tie. And while they have beaten us at St James’ Park in back-to-back seasons, the Magpies have lost their last two games on Tyneside, perhaps with one eye on this game as they spy an opportunity to end a 55-year wait for a major trophy.

Only two teams in the history of the League Cup have overcome a home defeat in the first leg to reach the final, but we were the last when we famously pipped Tottenham Hotspur in 1986/87. Our 5-1 success against Manchester City coupled with winning by three or more goals in three of our last eight away games proves that there is enough firepower in our side to turn this tie on its head.


The first leg

In a game packed with goalscoring opportunities, Gabriel Martinelli thumped the post after being played through by Leandro Trossard with the scores at 0-0, but on 37 minutes Martin Dubravka lobbed a long free-kick into a crowd of players and Jacob Murphy inadvertently nudged it into the path of Isak who dispatched a clinical finish past David Raya via the crossbar.

Just five minutes of the second 45 had elapsed when Newcastle doubled their lead. Isak picked up possession inside the area and got a shot away that Raya did well to push away from danger, but Gordon snuck past Jurrien Timber to bury the rebound. Kai Havertz missed a great chance to pull one back when he miscued a header that came off his shoulder and went wide, and the Magpies clung on to give us plenty to do to turn things around.

Home woes for Howe

Newcastle United players after conceding against Bournemouth

Since winning their first match at Emirates Stadium since 2010 a month ago, the Magpies stretched their winning run to a joint-club record nine matches by seeing off Bromley 3-1 in the FA Cup, and putting another three goals past Wolves.

However that run came to a crashing halt when Bournemouth pulled off a stunning 4-1 success at St James’ Park, and while a return to winning ways was found at Southampton when another three goals were plundered, Saturday brought a 2-1 reverse against Fulham and successive home losses for the first time in a year.

Recently, this competition has been fruitful for the Geordies, who have lost just one of their last 16 League Cup matches - the 2023 final when they were beaten by Manchester United. Nottingham Forest, AFC Wimbledon and Chelsea were knocked out on this season’s run, before the success against the Bees last month and their first-leg victory in north London.

What the managers say

Arteta: "When you compare the emotional state of the team straight after the defeat and the manner that it happened and how we are, today is very different because we come from very strong performances, some great wins and especially the last one at home against Manchester City. After that game we'll have a break so it’s the moment to go full gas.

"The next step is a final in Wembley so we know how big that is, and you can feel it straight away. The boost the game against City gave us, the manner that we won it, and the fact that it is a game in the competition where we are closest to a final, so we're going to give it a real go."

Eddie Howe

Howe: “We have to perform, we have to be ourselves, that is the challenge for us. Focusing too much on the scoreline (from the first leg) and the dynamics of that is no good. We just have to attack the game. My message is, we are at the halfway point in the tie, the game is still very much alive.

“We have to approach the game in a really positive and aggressive way. We are in a good position and need to make the most of every opportunity.”

Talking tactics

Sandro Tonali celebrates scoring for Newcastle United

Adrian Clarke: Newcastle's combative central midfield will hold the key to their chances of holding onto their lead. Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton and Sandro Tonali make a formidable unit, blending technical ability with physicality, they are also positionally interchangeable. The main tweak in recent months has been the use of Tonali as the deepest player, freeing the other two to fill box-to-box roles.

We have registered just one shot on target in each of our last two away games at St James' Park as the Magpies disrupted our flow inside the middle third with aggressive tactics, making the game stop-start in nature. Howe's team will do their best to play this way again, allowing us lots of possession - in the first leg we had 70%, and in those two away losses it was 59% and 64%. Blocking off central areas, they forced us into lots of hopeful crosses which played into their hands.

When they have the ball at the back I’d love to see a repeat of our fabulous pressing against Manchester City. In a recent 4-1 win at St James’ Park, Bournemouth destroyed Newcastle from turnovers forced by their hostile pressing approach. Our opponents were not comfortable dealing with it.

The danger man is clearly Isak, who was simply outstanding in the first leg. His slippery movement must be tracked better by our central defenders this time around, as we chase a vital clean sheet. Aggression, adaptable tactics, bright movement and clinical finishing will be the key to our success.
 

Team news

Neto during the game against Girona

While Neto will be cup-tied for this game, there are no new concerns for Mikel Arteta heading into this game, meaning that Bukayo Saka (hamstring), Ben White, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Gabriel Jesus (all knee) are our only unavailable players.

The Magpies received an injury scare on the weekend with Joelinton pictured in a protective knee brace following the game against Fulham, but Howe hasn’t ruled him out yet. He could join Harvey Barnes (thigh) and Jamaal Lascelles (knee) on the sidelines.

Callum Wilson is back in training after a hamstring injury but this game could come too soon for him, while Bruno Guimaraes, Nick Pope, Fabian Schar and Emil Krafth have all returned since missing the first leg. Lloyd Kelly joined Juventus on loan on deadline day, while Miguel Almiron has returned to Atlanta United.

Facts and stats

Gabriel Martinelli in action against Newcastle United

Newcastle are aiming to reach the League Cup final for the third time, progressing from both of their semi-final ties in 1975/76 and 2022/23. They’ve won both of their previous semi-final home legs.

Before this season, there were 31 cases of a team losing the first leg of a League Cup semi-final at home. Only two of the previous 31 have progressed to the final, with ourselves being the last to do so against Tottenham in 1986/87.

Newcastle have won four of their last seven meetings with us in all competitions, as many as they had in their previous 45. They’ve never beaten us in three different matches in a single campaign before.

Before this season, there have been 32 instances of a side losing the first leg of a League Cup semi-final by a margin of two or more goals. Only one of those have progressed to the final, with Aston Villa overturning a 3-1 first-leg deficit against Tranmere in 1993/94.

Newcastle have won their last seven home games in the League Cup, keeping five clean sheets and conceding just two goals in that run.

We have lost just one of our last 10 away games in the League Cup. We’ve kept eight clean sheets in that run.

Only against three sides have we failed to score in three different games in a single season in the 21st century (Liverpool in 2021/22, Chelsea in 2013/14 and Man Utd in 2004/05).

Alexander Isak has scored in both meetings with us this season, with both being the opening goal. No Newcastle player has ever scored in three different games against us in a single campaign.

Match officials

Hooper ref

Simon Hooper has been handed control of this semi-final, and he has been a good omen for us in 2024/25 as we have won all three matches he has been in the middle for - the 3-0 win against Nottingham Forest, a 5-1 success at Crystal Palace and last month’s north London derby triumph.

In fact we have won eight of the 10 games he has officiated, although the last loss was when we last exited the League Cup at the hands of West Ham United last term. Newcastle meanwhile have only won seven of 21 under his watch, although the last saw them win at Old Trafford back in December.

The two legs of this game plus the other semi-final between Liverpool and Tottenham will see a new VAR system trialled, whereby the on-field referee will explain decisions to the crowd via the PA system when he uses the pitchside monitor. This isn't the case for decisions not made using the monitor.

Should the aggregate score be a draw after 90 minutes, an additional 30 minutes of extra-time will be played before a penalty shootout.

Referee: Simon Hooper
Assistants: Adrian Holmes and Simon Long
Fourth official: Thomas Bramall
VAR: John Brooks
Assistant VAR: Nick Hopton

Recent trips to the Toon

Back in November, Isak powered home a header to seal a 1-0 success for the Magpies and condemn us to our second-straight loss on Tyneside, a year after we were on the wrong end of the same scoreline when Gordon’s VAR-assisted goal secured the points.

In May 2023 a fine Martin Odegaard strike and a Schar own goal saw us claim a 2-0 victory as we continued to push for the title, while the year before that it was a different story as White put through his own net and Guimaraes wrapped up the points to derail our quest for a return to the Champions League.


Live coverage

Live From N5

Tune into Live From N5 just before kick-off to hear live commentary of the game provided by Dan Roebuck and Adrian Clarke, who will guide you through all the action if you’re out and about.

You can also find out which broadcasters are showing the action live wherever you are in the world.