Second Final in Three Years: Newcastle Knocks Arsenal Out of the League Cup

Wembley Booked: Newcastle Reaches the League Cup Final Again

With one foot already in the League Cup final, Newcastle hosted Arsenal for the second leg of the semi-final. Eddie Howe's men had secured a crucial 2-0 away win at the Emirates, giving them a comfortable cushion going into the return fixture.

Howe made tactical adjustments by introducing Trippier and Botman for Livramento and the injured Joelinton, shifting to a three-man defense—a logical move after their 2-1 defeat to Fulham at the weekend.

After Isak’s Offside Goal: Murphy Strikes at the Right Time

Newcastle approached the game aggressively despite their defensive formation. The Gunners’ backline found itself under early pressure and struggled to cope. In the 19th minute, Murphy capitalized on a rebound off the post from Isak’s shot to make it 1-0. The Swedish striker had already celebrated earlier in the fourth minute, only for his goal to be ruled offside.

Arsenal, unchanged from their emphatic 5-1 win over Manchester City, had reason to be frustrated with the early deficit. Although Newcastle deserved the lead based on their dominant start, the Gunners had their chances—most notably when Ødegaard failed to convert twice from promising positions in the 18th minute. Trossard also had a rare opportunity in the 23rd minute, but Arsenal struggled to create clear chances.

Raya’s Costly Mistake

After the break, Arsenal started on the front foot and earned a series of set pieces, but they failed to make them count. Instead, a major blunder from goalkeeper David Raya sealed their fate. Under heavy pressure from Fabian Schär, the Spaniard attempted a risky pass to Declan Rice, who lost control of the ball. Gordon pounced on the mistake and calmly slotted home to make it 2-0 in the 52nd minute. This effectively ended Arsenal’s hopes, as they would have needed four goals to force extra time.

A historic League Cup semi-final comeback never looked likely. Despite their determination, Arsenal couldn’t break through Newcastle’s disciplined defense, and the score remained 2-0.

Newcastle Secures Another Final Spot

For the second time in three years, Newcastle United has booked a place in the League Cup final, set for March 16. But before that, their focus shifts to the FA Cup, where they face Birmingham City on Saturday at 18:45.

Arsenal, already eliminated by Manchester United in the FA Cup third round, will have a break until February 15, when they travel to face Leicester City at 13:30.