Newcastle made an impact and deservedly so 2-0 win at Arsenal in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final on Tuesday evening at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal spurned several promising chances in the opening half hour and were punished for their sloppiness by Alexander Isak. The Newcastle striker scored his 15th goal of the season seven minutes from the break, firing past David Raya with aplomb from a free-kick.
Anthony Gordon doubled Newcastle’s lead shortly after half-time and the Magpies were able to hold firm under increasing pressure from Arsenal, ensuring they took a significant lead back to St James’ Park for the return game in early February.
How the game developed
Newcastle started brightly in the capital, but it was the home side who boasted the better chances early on. A series of impressive blocks from throwing black and white shirts was followed by Jurrien Timber heading over the crossbar from four yards with the goal open.
It took just before half an hour arsenal to fully flex his attacking muscles with a slick move that almost resulted in the first goal. Two effervescent passes bypassed Newcastle’s press and sent Gabriel Martinelli racing towards Martin Dubravka’s goal, but the Brazilian’s venomous effort crashed against the post.
Just as the momentum shifted in Arsenal’s favour, Newcastle struck. Sven Botman claimed the opening free-kick and found Jacob Murphy, who cushioned the ball into the path of the in-form Isak. The tall Swede made no mistake from close range, clanging the underside of the crossbar to give the Magpies the lead.
Arsenal almost went in at the break, but Dubravka’s great save on the stroke of half-time denied the home side an equaliser. Declan Rice’s far-post header fell fortuitously for centre-back Gabriel, but the Brazilian couldn’t hit his half-volley past the Newcastle striker.
The Gunners would have been hoping for an immediate response after the restart, but it was their visitors who doubled their lead six minutes after the break. Murphy picked out the goalscorer Isak and the forward forced Raya into a low save, with Gordon reacting to Timber and firing the effort into an empty net.
Kai Havertz had a glorious chance to halve the deficit moments before the hour mark when Leandro Trossard’s deflected cross fell unmarked to him in the six-yard box, but the returning German inexplicably missed the his header as the ball bounced off his shoulder and went out for a goal kick.
Arsenal continued to press the Newcastle goal without working with Dubravka too often, with Jorginho firing a promising opener over the bar in the final five minutes that spelled a frustrating evening for the Gunners.
Arsenal’s creative struggles were clear for all to see at the Emirates and they now have the incredibly difficult challenge of overturning Newcastle’s two-goal cushion at St James’ Park in the second leg. If they can’t, it will be another missed silverware opportunity for Mikel Arteta’s side.
Mikel Arteta’s starting line-up highlighted the magnitude of Tuesday’s duel. The Spaniard fielded his best available starting XI for the arrival of Newcastle, hoping for a more impressive and fluid performance than the one on offer against Brighton & Hove Albion at the weekend.
However, from the first whistle, Arsenal found life difficult. Newcastle, somewhat surprisingly, used a high-octane pressing approach, forcing errors from the home side and limiting the time and space afforded to their talented forward line.
Newcastle understandably took a more cautious stance once two goals ahead, going deeper and making a number of defensive substitutions. However, Arsenal continued to be stifled by Eddie Howe’s side, with no answer for the deep back line in front of them.
The Gunners desperately missed the tireless and endlessly creative Bukayo Saka, who is sidelined through injury for the foreseeable future, and now have a mountain to climb ahead of the second leg. Without their talismanic full-back, Arsenal suffocated on the big stage.
There has long been a narrative that Arsenal need a new centre-forward if they are to turn from near-men to serial winners. Isak has been one of the names mentioned regularly in the gossip columns, and his mightily impressive performances on Tyneside did not go unnoticed.
While Kai Havertz – and Gabriel Jesus in recent weeks – have occasionally flashed through the cracks, on Tuesday evening he showed exactly what Arsenal have been missing during their toughest spells in recent years.
Isaac, which would allegedly cost £150mhe showed his class in front of an interested crowd, leading the line effectively from the first minute until his eventual substitution. He had already scored the winner the league game in November and produced a similarly clinical finish to fire Newcastle in front, before forging Newcastle’s second with a brilliant move from centre-forward. Havertz, for his part, missed an indisputable header at point-blank range.
The Sweden international’s all-round link-up play was hugely impressive, with bursts of pace and gazelle-like agility causing havoc for Arsenal’s experienced centre-back duo. If it was an audition to call north London his permanent home, he passed with flying colors.
Newcastle started the campaign relatively slowly but have burst into life over the last month. Tuesday’s triumph was a seventh in a row in all competitions, with victories over Aston Villa, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and now Arsenal in their last four outings.
The Magpies have often saved their best performances for the Premier League giants this term (see their 1-0 win over Arsenal earlier in the campaign) and have once again turned up the heat at the Emirates.
A breathless and energetic performance deserved a two-goal victory, with Newcastle ruthless in the final third, hard-working in midfield and heroic in defence. The latter was particularly glaring, with block after block denying Arsenal a way back into the game.
Should they reach the final, they will have no fear at Wembley, even if Liverpool are their opponents in the main event. They have shown their ability to continuously mix it with the best and now have an excellent opportunity to end their long trophy drought.
