Newcastle United Arsenal Match Report

We’ve been left with a tough ask to reach this season’s Carabao Cup final after losing the first leg of our semi-final 2-0 to Newcastle United at Emirates Stadium.

In a game packed with huge goalscoring opportunities for both teams, the visitors took the lead through Alexander Isak on 37 minutes, and then Anthony Gordon doubled it not long into the second half to give them a healthy lead to protect.

The closest we came to scoring was when Gabriel Martinelli thumped the post with the scores at 0-0 which could have changed everything, but despite us carving out plenty of good openings in the second half, we couldn’t reduce the deficit to make our task at St James’ Park next month a touch easier.

Chances galore

As the teams emerged there was a real semi-final feel thanks to a fine atmosphere bubbling from all corners of our home, and the on-pitch action matched it with the opening half played at a frenetic pace throughout.

That led to both teams having great early sights of goal - Joelinton ballooned over after being picked out in space by Isak, while at the other end, Jurrien Timber headed over a Declan Rice corner from just a couple of yards out.

But buoyed by having won six in a row at an aggregate score of 18-2 heading into this tie, the visitors continued to look dangerous. After Lewis Hall saw a shot blocked by Gabriel, Sandro Tonali blazed the rebound over the top.

On 28 minutes we came within the width of the post of striking the first blow of the two-legged tie. Leandro Trossard played a ball into space for Martinelli to run onto, and he left Sven Botman in his dust as he scampered towards the edge of the box where he let fly, but saw the ball thud against the post.

Double blow

All through the opening 45 minutes it looked like a goal could come at any moment, and on 37 minutes it did arrive - but unfortunately for us, it was the hosts who grabbed it.

Martin Dubravka lobbed a long free-kick into a crowd of players and Botman flicked it into the area. It fell for Jacob Murphy who inadvertently nudged it into the path of Isak, and the red-hot striker dispatched a clinical finish past David Raya via the crossbar to score for the seventh match in a row.

There was a late chance for us to restore parity before the interval but Dubravka stayed alert to make a good block to prevent Gabriel from blasting in after Rice won a header in the box, and that would prove vital for his side once the second 45 kicked off.

Just five minutes of the second 45 had elapsed when Newcastle doubled their lead, and, once again, Isak played a big part. He picked up possession inside the area and got a shot away that Raya did well to push away from danger, but Gordon snuck past Timber to bury the rebound and put the Black and Whites in firm control.

Opportunities go begging

However, with big chances continuing to be created at either end, the game was far from over and a huge opportunity came Kai Havertz’s way to reduce the deficit. Leandro Trossard saw a cross into the box deflect towards the German striker in space, but he miscued his header, saw the ball hit his shoulder instead and bounced wide of the far post.

Then Gabriel Jesus headed over a Rice corner before Martinelli teed himself up for a volley inside the box but he couldn’t keep it down, but after that flurry Howe shuffled his pack and shut up shop, looking to hold onto his two-goal advantage.

It worked as despite us being camped inside the Geordies’ half they snuffed out all of our attacks, with Jorginho coming closest to finding a way past Dubravka when he let fly from 25 yards but saw his attempt whistle over the top.

One good little omen for Gooners though - we have progressed from three of our last five League Cup semi-final ties, having not won the first leg in any of them, proving there’s still plenty to play for at St James’ Park on February 5.

What's next

We swap one cup competition for another as we kick off our FA Cup campaign with a third-round tie against Manchester United at Emirates Stadium on Sunday. Three days later, Tottenham cross north London for our second derby of the season, before we round off a huge week by hosting Aston Villa on Saturday, January 18.