Newcastle v Arsenal in Carabao Cup: Gunners eye comeback win as Newcastle bid to reach final
2025-02-04
Category: sports

Newcastle and Arsenal meet at St James' Park in the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-finals on Wednesday with the Gunners looking to overturn a two-goal deficit, while the hosts are aiming to move one step closer to a first major trophy in 56 years.Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon both scored at Emirates Stadium on 8 January to ensure Eddie Howe's side have one foot in the final.Arsenal, however, will be determined to keep their own trophy hopes alive and go into the game on the back of their most impressive result of the season - a 5-1 defeat of reigning Premier League champions Manchester City.
Will Arsenal overturn deficit?
It is a tough ask for Mikel Arteta's side to win at Newcastle but they go there knowing the hosts have been beaten on home soil in their past two games, conceding two or more goals on both occasions.Bournemouth were the visitors on 18 January and came away 4-1 winners, while Fulham triumphed 2-1 there on 1 February.The Gunners have been pretty free-scoring away from home and have hit three or more goals on the road five times this season, scoring five goals on three of those occasions.Arteta, whose club have not won the League Cup since 1993, said: "When you compare the emotional state of the team after the first leg and now after Man City it is very different. Next stop is the final. We know how big that is."The buzz the City game gave us and the manner we did it, it is momentum. It is time for full gas and go for it."However, history is not on Arsenal's side when it comes to comebacks from losing the first leg at home in an EFL Cup semi-final.On the 31 times it has happened previously, only twice has the beaten side gone on to overturn the deficit and progress.The good news for them is Arsenal were the last to do so, against Tottenham in 1986-87.Another stat that doesn't go in their favour is there have been 32 instances of a side losing the first leg of a League Cup semi-final by two or more goals and only one of those have progressed to the final, with Aston Villa overturning a 3-1 first leg deficit against Tranmere in 1993-94.
Newcastle aiming to make up for 2023 heartache
Newcastle reached the League Cup final two years ago - their first Wembley visit since the 1999 FA Cup final - when they faced Manchester United.But the Red Devils won 2-0, leaving Newcastle's long trophy wait to go on.Magpies boss Eddie Howe admitted there are some nerves at being so close to the opportunity to win some silverware, but believes his players can use that to help them."Nerves and excitement are closely linked to each other as emotions and you have to try and focus on the positive side much more than the negative," he said."I understand the brain can go in different directions but, ultimately, when you look at this game and we're in a cup semi-final, what a great opportunity we've got and that's if it is nil-nil."Forget any talk of a lead. What a great opportunity for us at home to attack the game, try and embrace everything in the face and do our best. That's what we're going to try and do."
Will failure to sign striker prove costly?
It was well documented that Arsenal were in the market for a striker in the winter transfer window.The Gunners had a bid for Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins rejected and Monday's deadline day passed without any additions.Arsenal are six points behind leaders Liverpool in the Premier League and are also in the Champions League knockout stage.Despite failing to bolster a position they were looking to strengthen goals have not been too much of an issue for Arsenal this season.They are the second highest scorers in the Premier League and have scored three or more goals in a game 13 times this season.Asked if he was frustrated not to sign a striker in the winter window, Arteta said: "No, because when you try your best and you do things with the right process. "You also see the people that we all share the same intentions with and wills, and after you don't achieve it, OK there are things to learn from it, there always are but you have to move on. "That's a piece that was important in the moment and now we have to move on, and nobody knows whether it is better to have done it or not, and we'll find that out at the end of the season."