Boasting a two-goal first-leg advantage and seeking to end their 70-year trophy drought, Newcastle United lock horns with Arsenal under the lights at St James' Park for the second leg of their EFL Cup semi-final on Wednesday night.
A place in the 64th EFL Cup final is up for grabs, with the winners of this contest to take on either Liverpool or Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley Stadium on March 16.
Match preview
![Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe pictured on May 22, 2024 [IMAGO]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/25/eddie-howe_1.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe pictured on May 22, 2024 [IMAGO]")
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After enjoying a club-record nine-match winning run in all competitions, Newcastle have since suffered two defeats in their last three Premier League matches, most recently losing 2-1 at home to Fulham last weekend.
Despite leading at the interval through Jacob Murphy, Newcastle lost their way in a second half when the Cottagers tremendously fought back to snatch maximum points, condemning the Magpies to successive home losses for the first time in a year; not since January/February 2021 have they suffered three straight home defeats.
Eddie Howe felt that his team were "nowhere near" themselves and he was left "very disappointing overall" as Newcastle missed an opportunity to climb back into the top four of the Premier League. They currently sit sixth and level on points with fifth-placed Manchester City, who they face in their next top-flight fixture in just over a weeks' time.
Before that crunch match at the Etihad, Newcastle must dust themselves down and shift their focus back to the EFL Cup, as they endeavour to reach their second domestic cup final in three years and boost their hopes of winning their first major piece of silverware since lifting the 1955 FA Cup.
Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon were both on target as the Magpies produced a clinical display in last month's 2-0 first-leg triumph at the Emirates, and Howe's side will now be looking to win their fourth match in five against the Gunners in all competitions.
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Since losing the first leg with Newcastle and then their FA Cup third-round tie to Manchester United on penalties, Arsenal have won five and drawn one of their last six matches in all competitions, winning each of their last four games by an aggregate score of 11-2.
The Gunners secured safe passage through to the Champions League last 16 with a 2-1 win at Girona last week, before putting Man City to the sword 5-1 with a statement victory at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, humbling the Premier League champions and boosting their slim title hopes in the process.
Mikel Arteta has urged his players to not get too carried away with their "very special" triumph over Man City, as they still sit second in the top-flight standings and six points behind leaders Liverpool who have a game in hand. Indeed, the prospect of coming up short for a third straight season is frustratingly still on the cards for Gunners supporters.
Success in the EFL Cup is now on the agenda for Arsenal who, to the surprise of many, have only won the competition twice in their history and last had their hands on the trophy back in 1993. The Gunners are competing in the last four for only the third time in the last 14 years, reaching the final on just two of those occasions.
In order to reach the showpiece event next month, Arsenal will need to win at Newcastle by at least three goals for the first time since October 2010 (4-0 in EFL Cup fourth round). A run of six wins in their last eight away matches across all tournaments bodes well for the Gunners, who have won by at least three goals on three of those occasions.
Team News
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Newcastle are still having to cope without Harvey Barnes (muscle) and Jamaal Lascelles (ACL) due to injury, but Callum Wilson has an outside chance of returning to the matchday squad after more than eight weeks out with a hamstring problem.
Nick Pope has watched on as a substitute in the last two games since recovering from a knee injury that kept his sidelined for 11 matches. Howe will now weigh up whether to recall his first-choice shot-stopper or continue with Martin Dubravka between the sticks.
Howe will also consider recalling Sven Botman in defence at the expense of either Fabian Schar or Dan Burn, and ex-Gunners midfielder Joe Willock will be pushing to start ahead of either Joelinton or Sandro Tonali, while Bruno Guimaraes is expected to start after missing the first leg through suspension.
As for Arsenal, they are still having to cope without injured trio Gabriel Jesus (ACL), Bukayo Saka (hamstring) and Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee), while Ben White is closing in on a return from a long-term knee injury, although this contest may come too soon for the defender.
David Raya managed to shake off a muscle injury to start in the Gunners' win over Man City on Sunday and the Spanish goalkeeper is expected to retain his place between the sticks ahead of Neto.
After scoring his first senior goal and impressing once again at left-back last weekend, Myles Lewis-Skelly will be hoping to retain his starting spot ahead of Riccardo Calafiori, while Ethan Nwaneri - who has three EFL Cup goals to his name this season - will be looking to force their way into the first XI ahead of either Gabriel Martinelli or Leandro Trossard.
Newcastle United possible starting lineup:
Pope; Livramento, Botman, Schar, Hall; Tonali, Guimaraes, Joelinton; Murphy, Isak, Gordon
Arsenal possible starting lineup:
Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Partey, Rice; Martinelli, Havertz, Trossard
We say: Newcastle United 1-2 Arsenal (Newcastle to win 3-2 on aggregate)
Newcastle's dip in form has come at an ideal time for an Arsenal side in high spirits after last weekend's statement win over Man City. Entering the cauldron that is St James' Park is daunting for many teams, but the Gunners are well-equipped to secure a positive result on Wednesday.
However, whether Arteta's men can secure the three-goal win they require remains to be seen against a Magpies outfit that will likely frustrate the visitors and may lose on the night, but edge through on aggregate.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Oliver Thomas
