Newcastle United moved a significant step closer to ending their 56-year wait for a major trophy after defeating Arsenal to book their place in the Carabao Cup final. Eddie Howe’s squad, holding a 2-0 advantage from the first leg, completed the job on an emotional night at St. James’ Park. They will now compete against either Liverpool or Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley, with a chance to win their first major silverware since their 1969 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup triumph.
Dominant Newcastle punish Arsenal
The hosts wasted no time in imposing themselves on the game. Alexander Isak thought he had put Newcastle ahead early on, only for his effort to be ruled out for offside. However, the breakthrough arrived in the 19th minute when Jacob Murphy capitalized on a rebound after Isak’s initial strike struck the post.
Arsenal had an opportunity to turn the tie in their favor moments earlier, but Martin Odegaard failed to capitalize when he clipped the post with only Martin Dubravka to beat. That miss proved costly, as Newcastle took full control of the match.
As the deafening St. James’ Park crowd urged them on, the home side struck again in the 52nd minute. A costly error from Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya saw him lose possession while trying to pass to Declan Rice. Fabian Schar pounced on the mistake, setting up Anthony Gordon for a straightforward finish that sealed Newcastle’s place at Wembley.
With this victory, Newcastle fans will hope to erase memories of their 2023 Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester United and claim their first domestic trophy since the 1955 FA Cup.
Howe’s side flourish under pressure
Despite entering the match with a solid 2-0 advantage, nerves surrounded Newcastle due to consecutive home losses to Bournemouth and Fulham. Meanwhile, Arsenal arrived in strong form, having thrashed Premier League champions Manchester City 5-1 just days earlier. Adding to Newcastle’s concerns was the absence of key midfielder Joelinton due to injury. However, his absence was barely felt on the night.
A fast start was crucial for the Magpies, and they delivered exactly that. Isak was the key figure in their attacking play, mirroring his impressive first-leg performance. Although his early goal was disallowed, he played a crucial role in Murphy’s opener.
Newcastle maintained a high tempo throughout, but even when the intensity dropped, they managed the game effectively. The second goal secured their triumph, triggering celebrations that carried through to the final whistle. Now, just one more victory stands between them and long-awaited silverware.
Arsenal falter as Newcastle march on
As Newcastle’s jubilant fans celebrated, they took the opportunity to taunt Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta over his previous complaints regarding the match ball used in the first leg. Chants of “Mikel Arteta, it must be the ball!” echoed around the stadium as the Gunners bowed out of the competition.
In truth, Arsenal could have no complaints. Over the two legs, Newcastle comprehensively outplayed them. The best chance to shift momentum came when Odegaard missed his early opportunity, and once Murphy extended the aggregate lead to 3-0, the outcome was never in doubt.
Unlike their dominant display against Manchester City days earlier, Arsenal struggled to replicate that energy and creativity. An injury to Gabriel Martinelli further hampered their efforts, but the reality was that they failed to find inspiration across both legs.
With their cup hopes extinguished, Arsenal must now refocus on the Premier League title race and their Champions League ambitions, while Newcastle march forward with their sights set firmly on Wembley glory.
