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Last Season
SJP
Unlikely Lads
Arsenal (a) Carabao Cup Semi-final First Leg
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Date: Tuesday 7th January 2025, 8pm Live on Sky Sports & ITV1. Venue: Emirates Stadium
Conditions: Euphoric |
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Arsenal |
Newcastle |
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0 - 2 |
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| Half time: | 0 - 1 | |
| Score Sheet: | ||
Isak
(37)  Gordon (51) |
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Teams |
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Raya |
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Dubravka Livramento Botman Burn Hall Tonali Willock Joelinton J.Murphy Isak Gordon |
| Substitutes: | ||
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(59)
Jesus for Trossard (59) Jorginho for Partey (78) Zinchenko for Lewis-Skelly |
Longstaff for Willock
(65) Kelly for J.Murphy (65) Barnes for Isak (65) Almiron for Gordon (76) |
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| Subs not used: | ||
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Calafiori Kiwior Merino Porter Sterling Tierney |
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Vlachodimos Targett Trippier L.Miley Osula |
| Bookings: | ||
Zinchenko
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Joelinton Gordon Livramento
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| Dismissals: | ||
| None | None | |
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Referee:
A
late change saw John Brooks move from VAR
duty to replaced the listed Craig Pawson. Brooks made only his second appearance in the middle for a Newcastle game this season, the first our 1-0 home victory over the same opposition in the Premier League back in November. A lack of VAR calls involving the pitchside monitor meant no instance of the referee explaining his decision via the stadium PA system - something trialed across all four semi-final ties this season. VAR: Michael Salisbury. |
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Attendance:
59,125 including 6,000 overjoyed
travellers - the additional allocation were placed in the lower sections to the
left to the usual away end, stretching behind the goal. A plea from Wor Flags to
take black and white scarves was well supported, with much waving and twirling.
As was the case in the
last round at home to Brentford, Newcastle wore in this tie with
branding related to Sam Fender's forthcoming album release. Both sets
of shirts will be auctioned off to raise funds for the work of the
Newcastle United Foundation. |
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Goals |
37 mins A goal with some similarity
to one we conceded in our most recent defeat at Brentford began when Lewis Hall
went down under challenge from Leandro Trossard just in his own half.
Martin Dubravka took the free kick from slightly nearer to his own goal, hoisting it to the edge of the Arsenal box. Sven Botman won the flick-on and the
ball deflected off Jacob Murphy and into the path of Alexander Isak, who
struck it left-footed into the roof of the net from seven yards out. 1-0
Half time: Gunners 0 Magpies 1
51 mins A deflected cross from the
Arsenal right fell to former Gunner Joe Willock just outside his own area and he
carried the ball forward over halfway before laying it off to Jacob
Murphy.
Moving it on to Tino Livramento on the right hand touchline, he quickly played
it back infield to the unattended Sandro Tonali. Exchanging passes with Sven
Botman, the Italian then saw Alexander Isak peel away from a defender and show
for a pass with his back to goal.
Receiving the ball, the Swede turned and swept the ball to Murphy overlapping on
the right. His precise return into the box found Isak with a triangle of Arsenal
players around him. He moved to his right and immediately dug out a right-footed
shot destined for the far corner of the net.
That was reached by David Raya, who dived to his right to palm the effort away
but succeeded only in laying it into the path of Anthony Gordon, whose
first-time effort cannoned off the diving Jurrien Timber and into the net from
six yards out in front of the travelling support.
Gordon's corner flag celebration emulated Arsenal old boy Thierry Henry before
his colleagues arrived to celebrate en masse. Jacob Murphy then mimed placing a
crown on the goalscorer's head. 2-0
Full time: Gunners 0 Magpies 2
We Said |
"
Today is another big step forward when you look at the recent run we've had away from home"We played with real confidence and
belief but in terms of the tie it's still very much alive and finely balanced
and we have a really tough home leg to come.
"There was a lot of fatigue in the second half. We started off on the front
foot but then we fatigued and then it was about our mentality to defend.
"We knew what was at stake and the players put their bodies on the line.
"It’s
still very much game on and we’ve only done half the work. These are big wins
for us – hopefully that can help us in future games.
"We have to try and win at any ground and go into any game feeling that we
are capable of doing that.
"When you’re in my shoes you have to be strategic and plan well. The
second leg is there in the future but it now goes out of my focus.”
On Alexander Isak:
Very pleased … it was a tough game for us … [Isak] was feeling his hamstring
a bit at half-time so we had to manage him in the second half and that was a big
blow to our performance … we rode our luck at times … we got the small
details right … our mentality to defend with the blocked shots, the heroic
pieces of defending … it’s great for us for the future.”
"He played very well in the first half and looked really good physically.
He looked free and I was delighted with how he performed.”
On Martin Dubravka:
"I’ve got nothing to add on that (about
claims that this was his last game). With Martin, we’ve been preparing for
this game, and we’ve had a lot of games in quick succession, so I’ve not
spoken to anybody about that.
"He’s playing very, very well, and
certainly from my side, I wouldn’t want to lose him at all. But I genuinely
know nothing. I’ve been head down, into the game.
"I’m sure I’ll speak to Paul (Mitchell, sporting director) at
some stage.”
Asked if he was in favour of a new deal for him:
"That would be my wish.”
They Said |
Mikel Arteta said:
"If you look at what both teams produced and the domination of the game, it’s
not a result that reflects the story of the game. But the reality is that they
were super efficient with the chances that they had and we weren’t, and at
this level in these kind of scenarios, you need to impose yourself and win the
game.
"It’s just half time and when I see the team playing and how we dealt with a lot of situations and playing against a very good team, I must say, I have full belief that we can go up there and do it.
"After the one or two deflections in the first one, the (first Newcastle) goal arrives. It’s preventable but they generate that chaos, they’re good at that. Then the second one, in particular, the first and second reception in the box and then the ball cannot get there to score the goal but it gets there. We can do better.
"Hopefully we will have more players
back (for the second leg)...we play so many important games, so, I hope
so. There are things that we could have done better. We were unlucky in moments.
You need a certain luck for the ball to bounce there.
"You need that intuition as well, and if not, we're going to have to
generate more. That's the thing that we can do. Then the probability will be
higher for us to win, but certainly against this team to produce what we have
produced, and looking back at the last six games that I watched, I haven't seen
it. But the result says 0-2, unfortunately.
On home fans leaving before the end:
"That's their decision. We try our best and it's their decision to stay
right behind the team or leave. I think I repeated a thousand times how
important they are and how critical it is to maintain the level of energy and
belief in the stadium to generate big moments at the end that we could have had
and because we were very close to score 2-1 and we would have needed that, but
that wasn't the case and that's not good.
on Alexander Isak and Newcastle:
"I don't think he created or had any big chances, but he was involved in
both goals unfortunately with the two times that he had the ball in the box.
That's what you have - the real quality up front and they can make a difference.
They're very clinical."
On the ball used in the Carabao Cup:
"It's just different, very different to a Premier League ball and you have
to adapt to that because it flies differently. When you touch it, the grip is
very different as well, so you have to adapt to that.
"I think we kicked a lot of the balls
over the bar and it's tricky that this ball flies a lot. We discussed that as
well, so there are details that we can do better."
The same type of ball was used in Arsenal's other three Carabao Cup ties
this season - a 5-1 win over Bolton Wanderers, 3-0 win over Preston North End
and 3-2 win over Crystal Palace. Arteta doesn't seem to have referenced any
issues after those games....
EFL statement:
"As is required throughout the professional game, the PUMA ball used in this season’s Carabao Cup and in EFL competition since 2021/22 is tested in accordance with the FIFA Quality Programme for Footballs, and meets the FIFA Quality Pro standard.
"In addition to the Carabao Cup, the
same ball has been successfully used in other major European leagues, including
both Serie A and LaLiga and our three divisions in the EFL.
"All clubs play with the same ball and we have received no further comments
of this nature following any of the previous 88 fixtures which have taken place
in this season's Carabao Cup."
Stats |
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Semi-finals: Tue 07.01.2025 Arsenal 0-2 Newcastle Wed 08.01.2025 Spurs 1-0 Liverpool Wed 05.02.2025 Newcastle v Arsenal Thu 06.02.2025 Liverpool v Spurs The Magpies secured their first cup success against the Gunners in 10 attempts, with the most recent before tonight the 1-0 1952 FA Cup Final victory at Wembley Stadium. They also ended a wait of almost 123 years for an victory and a goal in an away Cup tie against Arsenal* 2024/25 won 2-0 (LC) Isak, Gordon 2020/21 lost 0-2 (FA) 2007/08 lost 0-3 (FA) 2007/08 lost 0-2 (LC) 2001/02 lost 0-3 (FA) 1995/96 lost 0-2 (LC) 1971/72 lost 0-4 (LC) 1935/36 lost 0-3 (FA) 1901/02 won 2-0 (FA) Veitch, Al.Gardner * excluding games played on neutral grounds. Newcastle's 20th league and cup visit to the Emirates brought their second victory after the 1-0 Premier League win in November 2010. Twelve losses and one draw followed that, until tonight. This is the first time in the club's history that they have won competitive away games against Manchester United, Spurs and Arsenal in the same season, never mind in successive road trips. United won a game without Bruno Guimaraes playing any part for the first time since his move from Lyon in 2022. Our number 39 had featured all but seven of the 138 competitive games during his time here before tonight, those ending in four draws and three losses. The match order mirrors that of United's previous two League Cup semi-final appearances: 1975/76 Spurs: lost 0-1 (a), won 3-1 (h) 2022/23 Southampton: won 1-0 (a), won 2-1 (h) 2024/25 Arsenal: won 2-0 (a), result tbc (h) This is the fifth time that the two sides have been paired in this competition, Newcastle losing each of the first four without finding the net: 2024/25 Won 2-0 (a) 2010/11 Lost 0-4 (h) 2007/08 Lost 0-2 (a) 1995/96 Lost 0-2 (a) 1971/72 Lost 0-4 (a) Alexander Isak completed a half century of Newcastle strikes (44 PL, 2 FAC, 3 LC, 1 CL) during what was his 89th appearance (76 starts). Anthony Gordon moved on to 19 NUFC goals (17 PL, 1 FAC, 1 LC) and became the thirteenth current Magpie to have netted for the club in the League Cup: 4 Joelinton 3 Isak 2 Almiron, Lascelles, Longstaff, Schar, Tonali, Willock 1 Burn, Gordon, Hall, Murphy, Wilson Magpies @ Gunners - PL era: 2024/25 Won 2-0 Isak, Gordon (LC) 2023/24 Lost 1-4 Willock 2022/23 Drew 0-0 2021/22 Lost 0-2 2020/21 Lost 0-3 2020/21 Lost 0-2 (FAC) 2019/20 Lost 0-4 2018/19 Lost 0-2 2017/18 Lost 0-1 2015/16 Lost 0-1 2014/15 Lost 1-4 Perez 2013/14 Lost 0-3 2012/13 Lost 3-7 Ba 2, Marveaux 2011/12 Lost 1-2 Ben Arfa 2010/11 Won 1-0 Carroll 2008/09 Lost 0-3 2007/08 Lost 0-3 2007/08 Lost 0-3 (FAC) 2007/08 Lost 0-2 (LC) 2006/07 Drew 1-1 Dyer 2005/06 Lost 0-2 2004/05 Lost 0-1 2003/04 Lost 2-3 Robert, Bernard 2002/03 Lost 0-1 2001/02 Lost 0-3 (FAC) 2001/02 Won 3-1 O'Brien, Shearer, Robert 2000/01 Lost 0-5 1999/00 Drew 0-0 1998/99 Lost 0-3 1997/98 Lost 1-3 Barton 1996/97 Won 1-0 Elliott 1995/96 Lost 0-2 (LC) 1995/96 Lost 0-2 1994/95 Won 3-2 og(Keown), Beardsley, Fox 1993/94 Lost 1-2 Beardsley Anthony Gordon netted Newcastle's 250th goal in all competitions against Arsenal during what was the 195th meeting of the two sides. That total of 195 makes the North Londoners the side United have faced more than any other side, since our very first league game at Woolwich Arsenal in 1893. Manchester City are next, with 193. Three of the side Howe selected for a 0-2 PL loss here in November 2021 (his first game on the touchline as Toon boss) started tonight: messrs Dubravka, Willock and Joelinton. Almiron appeared from the bench in both games, while Murphy came on as a substitute in 2021 and started in 2025.
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Waffle |
Goals from Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon helped Newcastle
complete an unprecedented trio of away wins, leaving them on the
verge of a second Carabao Cup final appearance in three years.
In an extraordinary nine day period, the Magpies have now journeyed to Old Trafford, the
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and the Emirates - and emerged victorious each time.
You'll look in vain for a similar run in the entire history of this club.
Almost 195,000 people have witnessed first-hand a side playing without fear,
taking their chances and making their own luck. Never mind about the perceived
or real shortcomings of the opposition, this is all about us, what we do and
what we keep stopping our foes from doing.
The Red Devils and Cockerels may both be blighted by inconsistency and selection
woes, but a Gunners side lacking the hamstrung Bukayo Saka lined up at kick-off
looking to extend a 13 match unbeaten run, having not lost any of their 17 home
league and cup games since April.
The visitors meanwhile arrived after six successive victories, but to a ground
that has been almost unfailingly joyless - scoring just a solitary goal here in
over 14 hours of play in the last decade.
Pre-game, we'd optimistically spoken of a draw or even a one goal deficit ahead
of the home leg. At no point did it occur to us that we could actually come here
and win. Thankfully though, the Geordie variant of Stockholm Syndrome would
prove to be an effective coping mechanism....
The opening exchanges were even; Arsenal's main threat coming from corner kicks
until a break on the half hour ended with Gabriel Martinelli shooting against
the post - replays highlighting the folly of his attempt to beat Martin
Dubravka at his near post with the rest of the goal gaping.
Within eight minutes United were ahead, as a free kick from midfield was
pumped to the edge of the home area by Dubravka. Sven Botman got his head
on it and Jacob Murphy's pass across the box left Isak with a clear shot on goal
for his 50th Newcastle strike.
Reaching half time with no further incident, the anticipated
rearguard action after the break proved to be nothing of the sort as the black
and whites sensationally doubled their lead on 51 minutes.
Murphy again was the provider, pinging a low cross from the right to Isak in the
Gunners box. He worked an opening and although David Raya got a hand to that
shot, the loose ball was slammed home by Gordon in front of the disbelieving
away support.
The inevitable response came from Arsenal, but their overwhelming possession
failed to translate into many clear-cut opportunities to reduce the deficit.
Ending the game with two banks of five outfield players,
numerous well-timed blocks frustrated the hosts as the minutes ticked by. Dubravka
was in the thick of it,
but without reaching the heights of Tim Krul's epic display at White Hart Lane
in 2013.
Just over five minutes of added time were then negotiated successfully; jubilant Toon
followers serenading disgruntled Gooners as they abandoned their seats and
headed for the exits.
Full time saw players and fans salute each other, scenes in the away end
approaching Feyenoord-like levels of euphoria. Most of the squad quickly left the field though, in recognition of a task only
partly completed ahead of next month's second leg. That message was clearly
conveyed by Howe on the final whistle, quickly calming the celebrating Jason
Tindall alongside him on the touchline.
The exception was Dubravka, who looked close to tears as he acknowledged the travelling support amid media claims that his departure from the club is imminent.
That lack of exuberance continued in the away dressing room, where there was no post-victory group photo - underlining the message that it is only half time.
Victory came despite Bruno Guimaraes and Fabian Schar missing out through suspension, while Botman improbably completed his second 90 minutes in just four days following an extended injury layoff - and looked as if he'd never been away.
Massive performances were evident across the field during a comprehensive and deserved win that was achieved without recourse to any dark arts. What sharp practice there was came from the hosts: "same old Arsenal, always cheating" deservedly ringing around the ground several times.
Post-match whataboutery from Arteta meanwhile was delicious, finally moving on from the grievances of the Gallowgate End touchline in November 2023 to complaining about the type of football used.
What does seem evident though is that Howe has got into his head. The first Newcastle boss to achieve successive victories against Arsenal since Kevin Keegan has now won four and drawn one of the eight meetings he's overseen against lot - and tonight was the fifth clean sheet. Not luck.
While individual moments always stand out - finally winning on penalties at Watford, Steve Watson's goal at Anfield or the Ryan Taylor-inspired Etihad success - tonight must rank as the greatest of the 166 League Cup ties we've played, considering the performance, scoreline and level of opponent.
As to whether it's Howe's finest hour and a half since arriving in 2021, the PSG home win remains a high water mark by any measure but like Barcelona at home in 1997 was a one-off, stand-alone event. The uniqueness of tonight is where it could lead us to and what we could achieve.
6,000 loud and proud Newcastle followers may have sung about this being the best trip they've ever been on, but on nights like this it's possible to believe that it could yet be eclipsed a few miles away under an arch. This team look like they could go anywhere and give anybody a game.
We said after the 2023 Wembley loss it was important for Howe, his players and the fans to return as quickly as possible to compete in a final rather than just turn up and experience the occasion.
In the most gloriously unexpected circumstance, they stand 90 minutes away from doing just that.
Biffa