Juba Touabi, Media365, published on Tuesday January 7, 2025 at 11:16 p.m.
In an Emirates Stadium in search of fervor, Arsenal saw their hopes waver against a pragmatic and realistic Newcastle, winning 2-0 in this first leg of the League Cup semi-finals.
The start of the match had, however, hinted at a certain domination of the Gunners. Mikel Arteta's team controlled possession and tried to get around the Magpies' compact block. The best opportunity came from the feet of Gabriel Martinelli in the 29th minute. Well served in depth by Trossard, the Brazilian found himself facing Dubravka but saw his shot crash into the post. Newcastle, in ambush, took advantage of defensive negligence to open the scoring in the 37th minute. From a free kick, Alexander Isak, forgotten in the area, exploited a risky deflection from Botman to score from close range. This blow left Arsenal frustrated at the break, despite their barren domination.
Newcastle can count on the nugget Isak
The second half started with the same scenario, with Arsenal trying to shake up the opposing defensive lock. But Newcastle was able to seize a new opportunity in the 51st minute. Isak, always at the heart of decisive actions, forced Raya into a difficult save. Anthony Gordon then beat Timber to finish and give the Magpies a second goal. This second goal left the Gunners helpless. Despite an avalanche of chances and constant pressure, Arsenal lacked precision, like Havertz, who missed an unmissable header (58th), and Jorginho, whose half-volley in the 88th minute went over just above the transverse.
With 23 shots including only 3 on target, the Londoners suffered from offensive inefficiency, while their defensive errors were costly. Newcastle, disciplined and opportunistic, scored a resounding victory: their first on Arsenal's pitch in 15 years. The Magpies now head into the second leg on February 5 in an ideal position. For their part, Arsenal will have to find solutions to reverse the trend and hope to qualify for the final.
