Newcastle beat Arsenal 2-0 in the semi-final first leg of the League Cup on Tuesday in London, fifteen years after their previous victory on the Gunners’ pitch. The finalist of the 2022/2023 edition won in the British capital thanks to Alexander Isak (37th, 0-1), his scorer in great form, and Anthony Gordon (51st, 0-2).
Newcastle had not won at Arsenal, in all competitions, since November 2010 and a 1-0 victory in the Premier League acquired by a goal from Andy Carroll. At the Emirates, the “Magpies” had even lost twelve of the thirteen duels played afterwards, and obtained only one draw in this interminable series. The success signed on Tuesday, without executives like Bruno Guimaraes and Fabian Schär (suspended), brings Eddie Howe and his team closer to the final scheduled for March 16 at Wembley.
Isak, killer and symbol of Arsenal’s ills
Arsenal will nevertheless have a chance to turn things around with the semi-final second leg on February 5 at St James’ Park. The Londoners marked their territory for most of a very competitive match, with clear possession of the ball and the greatest number of clear chances. But the partners of Gabriel Martinelli, who shot at a post (29th), paid the price for the few drafts which passed through their defense, although the best in the championship (18 goals conceded in 20 matches).
The man who brought them to the ground, Alexander Isak, is also what the “Gunners” sometimes sorely lack: a clinical center forward, capable of scoring or making someone score at any time. The 25-year-old Swede took the lead on a ball deflected by teammate Jacob Murphy after a long free kick from goalkeeper Martin Dubravka, and he scored his tenth goal in nine matches.
In the middle of three opponents, he then managed to unleash a shot that David Raya could only push away, in the direction of Gordon. Arsenal put behind them a series of thirteen matches without defeat (nine wins and four draws), while Newcastle extended their current series to seven victories, all with twenty goals scored against two conceded. Tottenham and Liverpool face each other on Wednesday (9:00 p.m.) in London in the other semi-final first leg.
