Placing in one other stellar show on Tuesday night time, Newcastle claimed an important EFL Cup first-leg benefit as they secured a 2-0 victory away at Arsenal.
Having fun with what has turn out to be an actual purple patch over the previous month, Eddie Howe’s aspect took a shock lead within the Thirty seventh-minute as attacking talisman Alexander Isak produced a medical end from contained in the field.
Now sat simply 90 minuets away from reserving a spot on this season’s EFL Cup last and one other well-known journey to Wembley, Newcastle doubled their benefit simply six minuets after the restart as Anthony Gordon tapped house on the again stick.
Whereas Brazilian worldwide Gabriel Martinelli might need rattled the woodwork once they recreation was goalless, the Gunners failed to seek out any actual fluidity and now have an actual uphill battle on their arms.
Tottenham host Liverpool within the first-leg of the second semi-final on Wednesday (20:00 GMT), with the ultimate at Wembley on 1March sixteenth.
On an evening when Newcastle collected a heavyweight scalp in north London, now we have taken a have a look at the primary speaking factors.
Newcastle lay down one other assertion of intent
Though Newcastle might need proven some actual indicators of a wrestle when getting back from November’s worldwide break, the Magpies have come roaring again in a exceptional trend.
Mounting a stellar comeback away at Tottenham final weekend as they secured a 2-1 win in north London, Howe’s aspect definitely produced a repeat efficiency on Tuesday night time.
Signing off 2024 with a deserved 2-0 win in opposition to Manchester United, the previous bournemouth boss has seen his high-flying squad win every of their earlier seven appearances throughout all competitions.
Gaining an actual popularity for his or her medical shows within the last third, Newcastle have additionally continued to gather some heavyweight scalps.
Skyrocketing their approach again into the European chase and with the temper round St. James’ Park at an actual excessive, Howe’s males are sat within the driving seat to punch a Wembley ticket.
Arsenal have an actual problem on their arms
Whereas Arsenal might need opened the New 12 months within the midst of a three-match Premier League profitable run, it’s honest to say that Mikel Arteta’s squad have struggled to seek out a lot stability.
Left dissatisfied final weekend as they finally needed to accept a 1-1 stalemate away at Brighton, Tuesday’s hosts have watched their Premier League title ambitions take a serious dent.
Sat six factors adrift of Liverpool, the Gunners failed to say an instantaneous response right here and suffered a primary home defeat on the Emirates since April of final 12 months.
With some sections of the Emirates help making their frustrations heard on the full-time whistle, Arsenal are additionally struggling to manage with out the injured Bukayo Saka.
With their EFL Cup goals now hanging within the stability, the Gunners can be subsequent seen this weekend once they welcomed historic rivals Manchester United to north London.
Isak extends on his exceptional flurry
Whereas Manchester Metropolis record-breaker Erling Haaland might need stolen loads of the Premier League’s putting headlines over the previous two years, Newcastle’s talisman has solely continued to underlined his standing as one in all Europe’s most deadly marksmen.
Instantly discovering his toes at St. James’ Park after arriving from Actual Sociedad in the summertime of 2022, Isak is having fun with what has turn out to be one other sensational run of kind.
Producing a medical end right here and opening the scoring in north London, it’s no shock that the Swedish worldwide has repeatedly been linked with a bunch of Europe’s greatest golf equipment.
Now discovering the web in every of his earlier 5 consecutive appearances throughout all competitions, Isak has additionally registered 14 targets in his 15 showdowns because the center of October.
With the 25-year-old making it clear that he desires to play Champions League soccer, Newcastle will definitely see their resolve get severely examined throughout January’s switch window.
Match Report
Arsenal: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly, Partey, Rice, Odegaard, Trossard, Havertz, Martinelli
Subs: Zinchenko, Jesus, Jorginho
Newcastle: Dubravka, Livramento, Botman, Burn, Corridor, Willock, Tonali, Joelinton, Murphy, Gordon, Isak
Subs: Almiron, Barnes, Kelly
Targets: Isak (37’), Gordon (51’)
Yellow Playing cards: Arsenal: Zinchenko – Newcastle: Gordon, Joelinton, Livramento
Pink Playing cards: N/A
Referee: John Brooks