Newcastle United are closing in on a long-awaited trip to Wembley, having put one foot in the Carabao Cup final with a resounding victory over Arsenal at St James’ Park. Coach Eddie Howe orchestrated a performance that had his team in complete control ahead of the semi-final second leg.
Arsenal’s only hope now lies with their wallets, as Newcastle’s star striker Aleksander Isak was once again the man of the moment. The Sweden international delivered a remarkable performance, scoring a goal and providing an assist, leaving Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta with a clear illustration of what his team is lacking in crucial moments.
The Gunners, who enjoyed an impeccable home record dating back to last April, saw many supporters leave the stadium prematurely as the home side took control of the match. Newcastle’s first-leg triumph not only sets them up for potential glory, but also raises questions over whether Arsenal should consider shelling out millions to secure the services of Isak, potentially beyond 150 million euros.
As intriguing as the prospect of such a move is, at the moment the focus is on what awaits the team in the return leg. While the scoreline may flatter the Magpies, it underlines the importance of the results; Newcastle are now on the verge of redemption after falling to the bottom of the table against Manchester United in this tournament two years ago.
Isak’s first goal came eight minutes before the break, sending the Geordies into ecstasy. He then turned passer just after half-time, providing a golden opportunity for Anthony Gordon to increase the lead. Every time Isak found space, Arsenal’s renowned defense looked vulnerable and unsettled.
Despite Arsenal’s number of chances, which included close misses and a few scares, they simply couldn’t find the necessary composure in front of goal, something Newcastle took advantage of thanks to a string of good performances from Isak which has seen the latter score nine times in the Premier League since December.
The atmosphere was electric, brought to life by a large contingent of Newcastle supporters who made the trip and made their presence felt in the Clock End. The match started with Arsenal trying to show their strength from the start, creating pressure from set pieces, which resulted in a series of shots heading towards the Newcastle goal.
However, it was the visitors who struck first when a well-placed free-kick from Martin Dubravka, expertly deflected by Jacob Murphy, found Isak. The latter showed remarkable composure, lifting a well-placed shot against the crossbar and into the goal, revealing Arsenal’s defensive weaknesses.
Arsenal looked to equalize before half-time, with Gabriel coming close to doing so, but Dubravka stood firm to push away his shot. Despite controlling possession, the Gunners lacked that final move, a quality Isak has provided for Newcastle throughout the campaign.
Newcastle, on a run of six consecutive league wins, know how to handle high-stakes situations and showed their composure again early in the second half. Isak was at the heart of the second goal too, forcing a good save from David Raya, only for Gordon to pounce on the rebound with a clinical execution.
Frustrations were building for Arsenal, especially when Havertz missed a golden opportunity right in front of goal with a free header, which he inexplicably missed. As the Gunners pressed to get back into the game, defensive errors and missed opportunities continued to haunt them.
Despite late efforts from substitutes, including Jorginho, Arsenal’s evening ended in disappointment, while jubilant Newcastle supporters basked in the glory of their team’s performance, looking forward to the second leg with high hopes of reaching the final.
