Newcastle defeats Arsenal to advance to the League Cup final

Newcastle United defeated Arsenal 2-0 at a frantic St. James’ Park on Wednesday to finish with a resounding 4-0 aggregate victory, advancing them to their second League Cup final in three seasons.

Jacob Murphy tapped away a rebound in the 19th minute after Alexander Isak’s shot struck the post, just after Martin Odegaard of Arsenal squandered a chance to cut the lead in half.

After being trounced 2-0 at home in the first leg, Arsenal had yet another poor night. Their destiny was sealed when Anthony Gordon put the home team in command in the 52nd minute by punishing a defensive blunder.

Newcastle hopes to improve on their 2023 final loss to Manchester United by defeating either Liverpool or Tottenham Hotspur in the Wembley final next month. Newcastle hasn’t won a major trophy since 1955.

Ahead of the second game at Anfield on Thursday, Tottenham leads 1-0.

Only once has a side overcome the deficit to go to the final when they have lost the first leg of a League Cup semi-final by two goals or more in the previous thirty-two instances.

Arsenal’s resounding 5-1 victory over Manchester City on Sunday gave the impression that they would defy expectations and spoil the Geordie celebration.

Ultimately, the club’s enduring supporters celebrated with unrestrained excitement on Tyneside as they got another chance to win a trophy.

Shortly before the halfway mark of the first half, the tie was likely determined.

Given that VAR had already disallowed an Isak effort for the most tense of offside rulings, Newcastle may have been overcome with panic if Arsenal captain Odegaard had seized a fantastic opportunity rather than slicing a shot hastily into the outside of the post.

The raging Isak raced through on goal once more a minute after Odegaard’s blatant miss, and his curling shot bounced off the inside of the post to Murphy, who remained composed to drive the rebound home from a tight angle.

Bruno Guimaraes, the Brazilian captain of Newcastle, stated, “I was very happy (Odegaard) missed it.” They missed a great opportunity, and I believe we scored less than two minutes later. It was revolutionary.

Arsenal is a really good team, so I was nervous before the big game, but when we play like that, we become a fantastic team. If we play like that, we can have huge dreams.

Gabriel Martinelli’s hamstring injury forced him off the field prior to halftime, significantly hurting Arsenal. That moment may yet have broader implications for Arsenal’s season, given the injuries sustained by fellow forwards Gabriel Jesus and Bukayo Saka.

Their evening was to go even worse early in the second half, as Mikel Arteta’s team never really looked at ease.

William Saliba, who was particularly agitated, was fortunate that Gordon did not score from a distance when he dispossessed him and caught goalie David Raya far off his line.

However, Arsenal ignored the caution, and a few minutes later Gordon stole Raya’s careless pass out before sending a first-time effort past the Spanish goalkeeper and inside the post.

After the stress from the pregame had reduced, Newcastle easily won the remainder of the match against an Arsenal team that will now need to regroup and concentrate on attempting to overtake Liverpool in the Premier League championship contenders.