The Carabao Cup semi-final draw has pitted Newcastle United against Arsenal, with the first leg to take place at the Emirates Stadium in early January—with Fabian Schar and Bruno out suspended.
Eddie Howe’s side secured their spot in the last four with a commanding 3-1 win over Brentford, while Arsenal advanced thanks to a hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus in their 3-0 victory against Crystal Palace.
The first leg of the semi-final will take place in the week commencing January 6, with the return leg at St James’ Park set for early February. The winners will progress to the final at Wembley on March 16, where they will face either Liverpool or Tottenham.
Newcastle’s quest to lift their first major trophy since 1955 continues, but Arsenal’s resilience and experience present a significant hurdle with the Gunners sitting in third place in the Premier League following their QF victory this midweek.
Newcastle’s January schedule might be the key in this matchup, however, as it appears to offer some respite compared to their semi-final rivals’ tough schedule for the upcoming month of play. Without the added burden of European football, the Magpies will have more chances to rotate and rest players if Howe wants to.
After their trip to Arsenal in early January, the Magpies will face League Two side Bromley in the FA Cup at St James’ Park, followed by a manageable set of Premier League fixtures against Wolves and Bournemouth at home before taking on the Gunners again in early February.
This advantage could prove decisive, as Arsenal’s packed January slate includes nine games across three competitions. Mikel Arteta’s squad begins the year with fixtures against Brentford and Brighton in the EPL, Manchester United in the FA Cup, and a north London derby against Tottenham with a Champions League match against Dinamo Zagreb baked into January’s list of games.
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